Bhubaneswar: The sacred Snana Purnima, marking the ceremonial commencement of the annual Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Mahaprabhu Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra, concluded peacefully in Puri on June 29 amid an overwhelming turnout of devotees. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the country thronged the holy town to witness the divine bathing ceremony and the much-awaited Hati Besha, one of the most revered and visually captivating rituals of the Jagannath tradition.
Favourable weather conditions further enhanced the festive atmosphere, enabling devotees to participate comfortably in the rituals. With the successful completion of Snana Purnima, the deities will now observe the traditional 15-day Anabasara (ritual seclusion) beginning Tuesday before reappearing during Netrotsav, a day ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra.
Sacred Rituals Begin Before Dawn
Observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Jyestha, Snana Purnima is among the most significant festivals in the Jagannath calendar. The day’s rituals commenced around 5 a.m. with the ceremonial Pahandi procession. Mahaprabhu Sudarshan led the procession from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana Mandap, followed by Mahaprabhu Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra and finally Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
ଚକ୍ରରାଜ ଶ୍ରୀସୁଦର୍ଶନ ଧାଡ଼ି ପହଣ୍ଡିରେ ସ୍ନାନ ମଣ୍ଡପକୁ ବିଜେ କରୁଥିବାର ଅପୂର୍ବ ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ।
Divine View of Chakraraj ‘Shree Sudarshan’ being taken to the Snana Mandap in ‘Dhadi Pahandi’.#Snanajatra2026 #JaiJagannatha #RathaJatra2026 #RathaYatra #ShreeJagannathaDhaam #Puri pic.twitter.com/Qtw9eUh3CR
— Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 29, 2026
Before the ceremonial bathing, Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, the foremost servitor of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, performed the traditional Chhera Pahanra ritual, symbolising humility and equality before the Mahaprabhu. The sibling deities were then ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of fragrant sacred water drawn from the Mandirs’ revered golden well, in accordance with centuries-old Mandir traditions.
ସ୍ନାନ ମଣ୍ଡପରେ ଶ୍ରୀ ଗଜପତି ମହାରାଜାଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ରାଜ-ନୀତି ଓ ଛେରା ପହଁରା ସେବା ସମ୍ପାଦିତ ହୋଇଛି ।
Shri Gajapati Maharaja has performed the Raja-Niti and Chhera Panhara seva before the Mahaprabhu at the Snana Mandap.
#Snanajatra2026 #JaiJagannatha #RathaJatra2026 #RathaYatra… pic.twitter.com/YcpWA7aL26
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) June 29, 2026
Hati Besha Draws Thousands of Devotees
Following the sacred bath, the deities appeared before devotees in the unique Hati Besha, also known as Gajanana Besha. In this distinctive attire, the sibling deities are adorned with elephant-like features symbolising strength, wisdom and divine protection.
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) June 29, 2026
The ritual bears a close association with Mahaprabhu Ganesha, revered as the remover of obstacles, and signifies an auspicious beginning to the annual Rath Yatra. Thousands of devotees gathered along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) and at the Snana Mandap to witness the rare and spiritually significant adornment.
ସ୍ନାନବେଦୀରୁ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତି ଗଜାନନ ବେଶରେ ସୁସଜ୍ଜିତ ହୋଇ ଅପରୂପ ଶୋଭାରେ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି ।#Snanajatra2026 #JaiJagannatha #RathaJatra2026 #RathaYatra #ShreeJagannathaDhaam #Puri pic.twitter.com/oqn7ODCnEy
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) June 29, 2026
Anabasara Begins After Snana Yatra
According to Mandir tradition, the deities are believed to fall ill after the ceremonial bath due to prolonged exposure to the sacred water. They are subsequently taken in a ceremonial Pahandi procession to the Anasara Ghara, where they remain in ritual seclusion for 15 days.
During this period, devotees are unable to have darshan at the Jagannath Mandir. Instead, they traditionally visit the Alarnath Mandir at Brahmagiri, where Mahaprabhu Jagannath is believed to manifest until the deities reappear during Netrotsav, held a day before the Rath Yatra.
SJTA Ensures Smooth Conduct of Rituals
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) conducted all rituals according to schedule under close supervision, ensuring the ceremonies concluded smoothly. Extensive crowd management arrangements, including barricades, designated darshan routes and regulated entry points, enabled devotees to have an orderly darshan of the Holy Trinity from the Snana Mandap.
The seamless coordination among Mandir servitors, district administration and security agencies contributed significantly to the successful management of the festival despite the massive influx of pilgrims.
Chief Minister, Dignitaries Attend Ceremony
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited Puri to witness the sacred rituals and later shared his spiritual experience on social media. Expressing gratitude after receiving the divine darshan at the Snana Bedi, the Chief Minister prayed for Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s blessings to bring happiness, peace, prosperity and progress to every household.
ପବିତ୍ର ଦେବସ୍ନାନ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମାର ମହାର୍ଘ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ସ୍ନାନ ମଣ୍ଡପରେ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଦିବ୍ୟ ଦର୍ଶନ କରିବାର ଅପାର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ଲାଭ କଲି।
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଅପାର କରୁଣା ଓ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ପ୍ରତିଟି ଜୀବନରେ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ପ୍ରଗତି ଆଣିଦେଉ, ଏହାହିଁ ଶ୍ରୀଚରଣରେ ବିନମ୍ର ଗୁହାରି।
ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/0tyl5ciSSV— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) June 29, 2026
Several dignitaries also attended the ceremony, including Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, and Puri MP Sambit Patra, joining thousands of devotees in witnessing the auspicious festival.
Multi-Layered Security Arrangements
The district administration and Odisha Police implemented extensive security measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the festival. Nearly 80 platoons of police personnel were deployed inside and around the Jagannath Mandir, the Grand Road and other sensitive locations to regulate crowd movement and maintain law and order.
The security plan included Quick Action Teams (QATs), sniffer dog squads, rooftop surveillance, anti-sabotage checks, marine security arrangements and real-time monitoring through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). Additionally, help desks, police assistance centres, medical camps and dedicated facilities for senior citizens, women, children and Divyang devotees were established to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage experience.
Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said police deployment had been completed at all designated locations and that security arrangements were executed according to every stage of the rituals. He confirmed that all operations proceeded as planned, ensuring the peaceful conclusion of the festival.
Focus Shifts to the Grand Rath Yatra
With Snana Purnima concluding successfully, the focus now shifts to the annual Rath Yatra, one of the world’s largest and most celebrated religious festivals. After completing the sacred period of Anabasara, Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Mahaprabhu Balabhadra, and Maa Subhadra will reappear before devotees during Netrotsav, paving the way for their grand chariot procession to the Gundicha Mandir.
