Puri (Odisha) [India], Thousands of devotees thronged the temple of Lord Jagannath in Odisha's Puri on the occasion of Snana Purnima on Saturday.
Snana Purnima is a festival in Odisha in which Lord Jagannath, along with his brothers, are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum to Snana Mandap.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also attended the Snana Purnima and paid homage at the Jagannath temple.
Speaking to ANI, CM Majhi said, "Today afternoon, on the eve of Snana Purnima festival, I received the darshan of Gajanan Bhesh of Lord Jagannath in the evening and was blessed by the lord. I have prayed for the prosperity of the people of Odisha ".
"I also prayed for the welfare of the people and the successful performance of the upcoming Sri Gundicha Ratha Yatra," he added.
The deities undergo ceremonial baths on a special bathing platform with 108 jugs of sacred water.
The deities are then adorned with Gajanana Besha, which means they are dressed to look like Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity.
This is one of the rare occasions when the deities are publicly visible, allowing devotees to see the famous Rath Yatra up close.
Researchers mention that this unique darshan was first granted to Pandit Ganapati Bhatt of the Mahaganapatya community in Maharashtra during the 15th century.
Bhatt, a devout follower of Lord Ganesha, traveled to the ancient shrine in Puri in the hope of having a darshan of Lord Jagannath.
On the day of Snana Purnima, he observed the 'Chaturdha Murti' (four idols) at the Snana Mandap, but was disappointed as he expected to see his presiding deity, Lord Ganesha, in Lord Jagannath.
In response, Lord Jagannath, disguised as a 'sebayat' (temple servant), is believed to have encouraged Pandit Bhatt to return to the Sri Mandir.
To Bhatt's amazement, he witnessed the precious vision of Lord Ganesha in the Snana Mandap itself. Since that day, the deities are adorned with the enchanting 'Gajanan Besha' or 'Gaja Besha' or 'Hati Besha' every year on this holy occasion.
Snana Purnima is a festival in Odisha in which Lord Jagannath, along with his brothers, are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum to Snana Mandap.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also attended the Snana Purnima and paid homage at the Jagannath temple.
Speaking to ANI, CM Majhi said, "Today afternoon, on the eve of Snana Purnima festival, I received the darshan of Gajanan Bhesh of Lord Jagannath in the evening and was blessed by the lord. I have prayed for the prosperity of the people of Odisha ".
"I also prayed for the welfare of the people and the successful performance of the upcoming Sri Gundicha Ratha Yatra," he added.
The deities undergo ceremonial baths on a special bathing platform with 108 jugs of sacred water.
The deities are then adorned with Gajanana Besha, which means they are dressed to look like Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity.
This is one of the rare occasions when the deities are publicly visible, allowing devotees to see the famous Rath Yatra up close.
Researchers mention that this unique darshan was first granted to Pandit Ganapati Bhatt of the Mahaganapatya community in Maharashtra during the 15th century.
Bhatt, a devout follower of Lord Ganesha, traveled to the ancient shrine in Puri in the hope of having a darshan of Lord Jagannath.
On the day of Snana Purnima, he observed the 'Chaturdha Murti' (four idols) at the Snana Mandap, but was disappointed as he expected to see his presiding deity, Lord Ganesha, in Lord Jagannath.
In response, Lord Jagannath, disguised as a 'sebayat' (temple servant), is believed to have encouraged Pandit Bhatt to return to the Sri Mandir.
To Bhatt's amazement, he witnessed the precious vision of Lord Ganesha in the Snana Mandap itself. Since that day, the deities are adorned with the enchanting 'Gajanan Besha' or 'Gaja Besha' or 'Hati Besha' every year on this holy occasion.
