Jagannath Puri temple decked-up on Snana Purnima, preparations in full-swing for Rath Yatra - Pics, Video

On June 24, Thursday, being Snana Purnima - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra idols reached the Snana Mandap and devotees could watch it virtually.

New Delhi: Lord Jagannath's famous Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha is about to begin on July 12 amid COVID-19 protocol in place. Ahead of the big festival, preparations and pre-festive rituals have already begun. On June 24, Thursday, being Snana Purnima - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra idols reached the Snana Mandap and devotees could watch it virtually. No crowd has been allowed this year keeping the pandemic situation in mind. According to Samarth Varma, District Magistrate of Puri, Pahandi rituals will start around 1 am and Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra will reach the Snana mandap. "Once in a year, God comes outside so that people of other religions can get `darshan`. So lakhs of people gathered every year outside the temple every year. This year, however, the thousand-year ritual will be performed witnessed virtually," Varma told ANI. WATCH: Deba Snana Purnima being celebrated in #Puri, #Odisha, without devotees due to the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic.#debasnanapurnima