The revered Snana Purnima rituals took place with great enthusiasm at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Wednesday, attracting a multitude of devotees from various regions.

During this significant event, the divine trio—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—were ceremoniously taken from the Ratna Bedi (inner sanctum) to the Snana Mandap (bathing platform), a vital precursor to the annual Rath Yatra.

The Snana Mandap was beautifully adorned, with the sounds of temple bells and devotional chants resonating throughout the temple grounds. The Grand Road (Bada Danda) transformed into a vibrant sea of spirituality, with long lines of pilgrims eager to catch a glimpse of the deities and the unique Hati Besha (elephant attire) that the lords would wear post-bathing.

According to the temple's schedule, the Mangalarpana ritual commenced at 4:30 a.m., followed by the Dhadi Pahandi (grand procession) at 5 a.m. The Mangala Arati took place at 9 a.m., with various rituals continuing throughout the day. The ceremonial sweeping of the Snana Mandap, known as Chhera Pahanra, was set for 3:30 p.m., followed by the Hati Besha at 4:30 p.m. The attire will be ceremonially removed during the Mailama ritual at 11 p.m.

In line with tradition, the deities received a ceremonial bath using 108 pitchers filled with fragrant and holy water. To manage the large crowds and ensure orderly viewing, barricades were established. Additionally, 70 platoons of police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order in and around the temple area.

Snana Purnima signifies the ceremonial bathing of the deities before they enter a two-week period of Anasara, leading up to their grand return during the Rath Yatra.