Puri, Jun 18: In a moving display of devotion and tradition, a 9-month-old infant named Shubham Swain Mahapatra has been ceremonially inducted into the sacred service of Lord Jagannath at the Puri Shreemandir.

Born into the revered Daitapati servitor lineage, Shubham is the son of young servitor Kanha Swain Mahapatra and the grandson of a senior Daitapati.

As per age-old customs, male children born into Daitapati families are considered eligible to serve Mahaprabhu during the Anasara period — when the deities fall ill after the ceremonial Snana Purnima bath and retreat into seclusion for 15 days. If the child is over 21 days old by this time, he is symbolically inducted into the Lord’s service.

On the fifth day of Anasara, known as Phuluri Tela, Shubham accompanied his father and grandfather into the Anasara Ghara to offer herbal treatment (Osha Lagi) for the ailing deities. Though too young to understand the rituals, his presence marked a powerful continuation of the Daitapati legacy.

The family expressed deep emotion at the moment. “Though Shubham is unaware of the sacred duties now, we believe he will grow up with a spirit of surrender and devotion to Mahaprabhu,” said his grandfather with pride.

The Daitapati community, known as the spiritual caretakers of Lord Jagannath during Anasara and Rath Yatra, sees this as a divine blessing. The induction of such a young servitor has filled the temple corridors with joy and reverence.

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