Puri, June 26: After a spiritually charged 15-day wait, devotees will finally have darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in Nabajouban Besha today.

The ritual, also known as Netrotsav, includes the ceremonial painting of the deities’ eyes and is considered a deeply emotional moment for devotees.

On Wednesday, the Dattamahapatra servitors completed the Banakalagi ritual.

To ensure a smooth and organised darshan experience, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration said that the darshan was held in two phases: Paramanik Darshan (ticketed entry) from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, followed by general public darshan until 10:30 AM, after which the temple doors were closed for further rituals.

Post-darshan, various traditional ceremonies will unfold, including Sarvanga, Bandapana, Yatrangi Mahasnan, Surya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Gopal Bhog, and Sakaldhupa. Around 4:10 PM, after the ritual of Ratha Agyanamala, the three chariots will be ceremonially moved closer to Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate), marking the countdown to the grand Rath Yatra.

Later rituals include Badasinghara adornments and offerings such as the Lord’s Khenduva, Bahutakanta, and Senapata robes, all of which are meticulously executed by the Daityapati servitors.

With over 15 lakh devotees expected to converge on Puri, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place. Nearly 10,000 personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces, have been deployed, supported by AI-powered surveillance systems, anti-drone technology, and marine security forces.

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