Deva Snana Purnima rituals begin in Puri, marking start of Rath Yatra festivities –

Odisha, the Deva Snana Purnima rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra started this morning in the holy city of Puri. Snana Purnima festival marks the beginning of the annual Rath Yatra of the Lord. Deva Snana Purnima is held on the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha. It carries lots of significance for Odias. The Sibling deities, once placed on the bathing platform, are bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water. After the holy bath, deities are decked up in Gajanana Besha. The Deva Snana Yatra culminates after the Lords are taken to the ‘Anasara Ghara’ on Pahandi. Soon after the ceremonial bath, the deities fall sick and go into a 15-day quarantine. After a full fortnight of rest, they reappear to the public as Netrotsav, a day before Srigundicha-the first day of Rath Yatra.