Puri, Jun 29: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined lakhs of devotees in Puri on Monday to witness the sacred Deva Snana Purnima ritual at the Jagannath temple. He offered prayers to Lord Jagannath on the Snana Vedi (bathing altar), marking the ceremonial bathing of the holy siblings — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, on the occasion, officials said.

After offering prayers, Pradhan shared a devotional message on X, highlighting the spiritual atmosphere at the Snana Mandap where devotees gathered for the divine darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. He wrote that Mahaprabhu's glory is infinite and eternal and prayed that the Almighty’s blessings remain with everyone always.

ସ୍ନାନ ମଣ୍ଡପରେ ଆଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମିକ ପରିବେଶରେ ଭକ୍ତମାନେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଦର୍ଶନ କରିବା ସହ ତାଙ୍କର ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଲାଭ କରୁଛନ୍ତି । ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ମହିମା ଅପାର ଓ ଅନନ୍ତ । ତାଙ୍କର ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସହ ସଦାସର୍ବଦା ରହିଥାଉ, ଏହା ହିଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା ।

#Snanajatra2026 #JaiJagannatha #Puri #Odisha pic.twitter.com/HxBJxYsQO8

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 29, 2026

The Deva Snana Purnima ritual marks the beginning of the world-famous Rath Yatra, scheduled to commence on July 16.

As per the schedule, the servitors on early morning brought the holy deities from their sanctum sanctorum to the bathing platform 'Snana Vedi' in a grand procession called 'Pahandi Bije' ritual with the blowing of traditional musical instruments such as gongs, conch shells, etc.

The holy siblings were bathed by the servitors with 108 pitchers of holy, fragrant water drawn from a mysterious well known as the 'Sunakua' or the 'Golden Well' inside the temple between noon and 2 PM.

Following the bath, the deities were adorned in the Gajanana Besha (elephant attire) before being placed in the Anasaragruha (isolation chamber). Tradition holds that the deities suffer from fever due to the bathing and remain out of bounds for all, except Daita and Pati servitors.

The idols of the three deities then make an appearance after the 'anasara' or quarantine in a new appearance known as "Naba Jaubana Darshana" in youthful form ahead of the Rath Yatra.

Also Read: Debasnana Purnima Today, Lord Jagannath's Rare Gajanana Besha after Sacred Bath

To manage the massive turnout, Odisha Police deployed extensive security arrangements, including four SP-rank officers, 14 Additional SPs, 31 DSPs, 83 Inspectors, 340 SIs/ASIs, and 79 platoons of police personnel, supported by specialised units.

The Snana Yatra, steeped in tradition and devotion, continues to reaffirm Puri’s status as one of India’s most revered spiritual centres, drawing lakhs of devotees every year.