Puri, Jun 10: The Snana Purnima festival on Wednesday will mark the beginning of the Anasara period, during which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan remain in isolation for 14 days following their ceremonial bath.

This sacred tradition, observed at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, symbolizes the deities' recovery from the effects of the 108-pitcher bathing ritual.

The Ritual of Anasara

After the divine bath, the deities are believed to fall ill, leading to their seclusion in the Anasara Ghara (recovery chamber). During this period, Daitapati servitors perform secret rituals to aid their healing. Devotees, unable to see the deities, offer prayers to Anasara Pati, a set of sacred paintings representing the divine forms.

The Role of Pattachitra Artists

The Chitrakar Sevayats (traditional artists) meticulously prepare Pattachitra paintings of the deities, which are worshipped in place of the idols. These paintings depict:

- Ananta Vasudeva for Lord Balabhadra
- Maa Bhubaneswari for Devi Subhadra
- Ananta Narayana for Lord Jagannath
- Patitapaban for Lord Sudarshan

Using natural colours like hingula, harital, conch powder, deepkala, and geru, the artists create these sacred representations with utmost devotion.

The Grand Procession of Pattachitra

On Snana Purnima, the completed paintings are ceremoniously carried to the temple in a procession accompanied by bells and conch sounds. This marks the transition into the Anasara period, during which devotees eagerly await the deities' reappearance for the Rath Yatra.

Spiritual Significance

The Anasara period is a time of reflection and devotion, reminding devotees of the cyclical nature of life, healing, and renewal. It builds anticipation for the Nabajauban Darshan, when the deities regain their divine strength and emerge for the grand chariot festival.

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