A very special and sacred festival of Lord Jagannath held in the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha. This festival is known as ‘Devasnan Purnima’ or ‘Snana Yatra’ (Bathing Festival) to commemorate the appearance day of Lord Jagannath.

According to Skanda Purana when King Indradyumna installed the wooden deities he arranged this bathing ceremony. This day considered to be the birth-day of Lord Jagannath. According to Scripture if one gets a vision of the Lord on this day,washes away all his sins . On the auspicious occasion, Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are given a lavish ceremonial bath with scented water, following which they supposedly fall “sick” and are transferred to a secret room known as Anasara Ghara. Here, they undergo treatment and stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days. During this period the Deities offered only fruits and water mixed with cheese and Dasamula (Root) medicines to cure from fever.

During all these days the daily rites of the temple remain suspended for three deities. Due to the sacred bath with 108 pitchers of water , the colours painted on the images fade out. The devotees repaint the images with new colors and on the 16th day the Deities appear in their new forms after colouration become ready for the public view. The festival of the first appearance of the Lord Jagannath to his devotees is called ‘Netrotsava’ (festival for the eyes) or ‘Nava Yauvanotsava’ (festival of the ever new youth).

After the fever abates, the Holy Trinity set out for parade on the chariots in a grand procession, what is better known as Rath Yatra -The grandest spectacle of World.

Neeladrou Shankha madhye   satha dala  kamala, Rathna simhasanastham ,
Sarvalangara  yuktham  nava  Ghana  ruchiram  samyutham chagrajena  ,
Bhadraya vama bhage   radha charana yutham  , Brahma rudrendra  vandhyam,
Vedaanaam saram  eesam   sujana  parivrutham   Brahma dharum Smarami  .

*On the blue mountain , in the middle of the conch sitting on a gem studded throne in the middle of a lotus flower with hundred petals,
Completely decorated in a new charming profound way along with his elder brother ,With Subadra on his left side ,I meditate on the Lord who is worshipped by Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma and who is surrounded by own  people.*

ISKM Balasore

ISKM Singapore

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HG Tattavith Prabhu recorded a very sweet and soulful redition of Sri Jagannathastakam. you can hear the version in the video below.