|
Travel
Sites |
Jagannath
yatra begins with snan
purnima in Puri
Bhubaneshwar:
The divine journey of Lord Jagannath commonly known as "Jagannath
Yatra"started on Sunday with bath rituals known as Snan Purnima in Puri.
Thousands of devotees took bath on this auspicious occasion preceded by
the bath of Idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, his elder brother
and Subhadra, his sister. They were taken out from sanctum to Snan Mandap
(bathing place) amidst series of rituals and chanting of 'Jai Jagannath'
and 'Haribol' and beating of conch shells, bathing ceremony was performed.
Admiring the aura created on the Snan Purnima, Anshumanshi, a tourist,
said "I liked it very much because for me this is the first time in my
life that I can see Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra. I would
like to use this opportunity to say that thousands of Vaishnavas prayed
to the Lord Jagannath on this day." Enumerating the significance of the
Snan Purnima, Surya Narayan Rath Sharma, a priest said, "The festivities
start with the Snan Purnima, in which Lord Jagannath with other deities
brought out. The Maha Jasta, another holy ritual followed by the Snan
Purnima." Another holy bath followed by Snan Purnima held in the temple
known as Anabasar Ghar. There after Lord Jagannath stay there for a fortnight
and a herbal treatment is given to Him. Believers think that offering
prayers to Lord Jagannath during this fortnight would eradicate their
sins.
-June 11, 2006
|
Window
on India |
Tourist
offices
in India
|
News
Links |