Around 208 kg of gold ornaments to be used in Lord Jagannath's 'Suna Besha' on chariots
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Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Repair works of Ratna Bhandar completed: ASI
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri on Monday announced that the ASI has completed repair of the 12th century shrine's 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasury) and inventory-related work will begin after approval of the State government. This was announced at a joint press briefing by SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee and Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) Superintending Archaeologist D B Garnayak here. The ASI is the custodian of the 65-metre-tall imposing temple in the seaside town. 'By the infinite grace of the Lord, the conservation and renovation work of the Ratna Bhandar, both outer and inner, has been completed today,' Padhee told reporters. The outer chamber is regularly used to store and retrieve ornaments for daily rituals and festivals. The most valuable ornaments made of gold and diamond are kept in the inner chamber, which had not been opened for 46 years due to concerns about its structural integrity and the need for repairs. The inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar was reopened in 2024 for an inventory of valuables and the repair of its structure. The conservation work was carried out by the ASI for about 333 hours over a period of 95 days. As many as 80 people worked to conserve the Lord's treasury, said Padhee. About the inventory of valuables in the Ratna Bhandar, Padhee said the works related to it will begin only after the permission of the State government. The Jagannath temple in Puri functions under the Law department of the Odisha government. Jewellery and other precious items stored in iron chests and almirahs were shifted to temporary strong rooms inside the temple in two phases in July last year when the Ratna Bhandar was reopened after four decades. The valuables will be taken inside the Ratna Bhandar shortly, since the repair is now complete, the SJTA Chief Administrator said. The last inventory of the Ratna Bhandar was prepared in 1978. Padhee said the repair and conservation works were carried out as per the State government's prescribed guidelines. 'By the grace of the Lord, the repair work was completed before Niladri Bije of deities on July 8,' he said. 'Niladri Bije' refers to the return of the sibling deities - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath - to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, markingconclusion of the Rath Yatra festival.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
‘Adhara Pana' ritual held on chariots of holy siblings
Bhubaneswar: The servitors of Jagannath temple on Monday conducted a significant ritual called 'Adhara Pana' before the holy siblings - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra - seated on their chariots near the 12th century shrine at Puri. The significant ritual related to the annual Rath Yatra began at 4.30 pm and continued till 9 pm on Monday. Traditionally, this ritual takes place after Suna Besha of the deities. Thousands of devotees gathered at the holy city to witness the divine ritual of the deities on Monday. As per tradition, a special drink is offered to the deities in nine cylindrical pots large enough to reach the lips of the deities on their chariots. This ritual is known as 'Adhara Pana' with the joining of two words - 'Adhara'(lips) and 'Pana' (delicious drink prepared with the mixture of jaggery, coconut gratings, cottage cheese, gram flour and other ingredients). The servitors broke nine large earthen pots, three each placed before Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, filled with sweet drinks after offering them to the deities. The spillover drink is meant for the subsidiary deities placed on the chariots, evil spirits and ghostly bodies. The devotees are forbidden to collect and drink the Adhara signifies the end of Rath Yatra as the deities in a ceremonial procession will return to their sanctum sanctorum on Tuesday. The special ritual. popularly called Niladri Bije, is held on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha. Niladri Bije is the last phase of the Rath Yatra, which began on June 27. Lord Jagannath will enter the 12th century after pacifying an angry Goddess Laxmi by offering her 'rasagolla' during the Niladri Bije ritual. The devotees will have the 'darshan' of the deities on the Ratna Singhasana (the bejewelled platform) from Thursday. This year's Rath Yatra was marked by the unfortunate stampede incident that claimed the lives of three pilgrims near Gundicha temple on June 29, as well as chaos during the pulling of chariots on June 27.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Jindal Foundation served 2 million meals during Rath Yatra
Bhubaneswar: Continuing its long tradition of serving devotees during the Rath Yatra at Puri, Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel, served over two million meals to the devotees during the grand festival. From Nabajouban Darshan on June 26, the Foundation provided freshly cooked traditional Odia meal daily for 11 days, until the day of Suna Besha on July 6. To reach as many pilgrims as possible, the Foundation established two large-scale food distribution stalls at strategic locations -- near the Puri railway Station and the bus stand adjacent to Gundicha temple. These stalls offered traditional Odia meal consisting of rice, dalma (a wholesome lentil and vegetable preparation) and khata (a sweet and tangy chutney), chosen both for its cultural relevance and nutritional benefits. Prepared under strict hygiene standards, the meals were served with deep reverence, in alignment with the spiritual significance of the festival. A dedicated team of over 160 volunteers and staff worked tirelessly in shifts to manage the massive operation -- handling cooking, transport and distribution with efficiency. Shallu Jindal, Chairperson of Jindal Foundation, reflected on the Foundation's long-standing commitment and said, 'It has been our humble effort for the past 11 years to ensure that no devotee remains hungry during the Rath Yatra. We feel blessed to serve in this sacred celebration of devotion and unity.'
