Lakhs congregate in Lord Jagannath temple in Puri to witness Deva Snana Purnima

Devotees gather for Lord Jagannath's ceremonial bathing rituals at 12th-century temple; tight security and elaborate arrangements in place.

Lakhs of devotees, including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries, gathered here on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) to witness Lord Jagannath's ceremonial bathing rituals, held in an open pandal on the premises of the 12th-century temple.

On the occasion, three deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra - were brought to the 'Snana Mandap' (bathing altar) with ceremonial ‘pahandi’ (procession), officials of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said.

The deities are bathed on the ‘Snana Mandap’ (bathing altar), the elevated pedestal facing the Grand Road where devotees get the opportunity to witness the bathing rituals, they said.

"Shree Sudarshan was first brought out of the shrine and taken to the bathing altar at 5.45 am. After that, idols of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were taken to the bathing altar," an official said.

The 'Pahandi ritual' was completed by 8.55 am, he said.

Accompanied by Puri MP Sambit Patra, the Chief Minister entered the temple through the 'Uttara Dwara' (northern gate) and witnessed the morning prayers and the ceremonial procession of the deities, another official said.

The festival, known as Deva Snana Purnima, takes place on the full moon day in the month of Jyestha, and this is the first occasion in a year when the wooden idols are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum in a procession and placed on the 'Snana Mandap' for the bathing rituals.