Daitapati servitors at Puri’s Srimandir entered to perform the ‘Bahuta Kanta’ ritual

Puri:2/6/23: Daitapati servitors at Puri’s Srimandir entered the 12th-century shrine here on Friday to perform the ‘Bahuta Kanta’ ritual ahead of Snana Purnima for preparations.

Darshan of the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra will be restricted for the devotees during the ritual from 6 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

A ‘Baula’ tree at the Sakhigopal area was measured and cut for ‘Senapata Lagi’ and ‘Bahuta Kanta’ rituals. Subsequently, the ‘Bahuala’ log, measuring eight feet long and three feet wide, was transported to Puri on Wednesday night and kept at Dolabedi corner. The log will be cut further to prepare Senapata and Bahuta for Lord Jagannath, which will be tied to the back and arms of Lord Jagannath and covered with silk clothes.

‘Senapata Lagi’ and ‘Bahuta Kanta’ rituals are performed during ‘pahandi’ of the deities at the time of ‘Snana Jatra’, ‘Gundicha Jatra’, ‘Adapa Mandapa Bije Jatra’, and ‘Niladri Bije’.

The Snana Jatra or Deba Snana Purnima is an important event in the run-up to the Rath Yatra or the Car Festival. During this ritual, the deities are bathed with 108 pitchers of water drawn from a well situated near the Sitala temple on the premises of the Jagannath temple.