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Hans India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Ratna Bhandar inventory in Aug
Bhubaneswar: A day after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) completed repair and conservation work of the sacred Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Tuesday said the long-awaited inventory of valuables stored in the treasury may begin in August with the assistance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Responding to a question on the next step after ASI's conservation efforts, the minister said, 'The inventory of the valuables in the Ratna Bhandar could be undertaken any time in August. The State government will soon write to the RBI, requesting it to deploy experts who have experience in auditing temple ornaments and treasures, such as at the Somnath Temple.' The minister informed that the inner chamber of the Ratna Bhandar was last opened in 1978 — 46 years ago — when the inventory of gold ornaments and other valuables was conducted. Since then, there has been a long-standing demand from the people of Odisha for a fresh inventory. Fulfilling a major poll promise, the BJP-led State government recently constituted a high-level committee headed by retired Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswanath Rath to oversee the inventorisation of jewellery and other treasures stored in the Ratna Bhandar. Harichandan said the State already possesses a record of the items listed in 1978 and that the upcoming stock-taking exercise will involve a thorough verification. 'We will match the current stock with the 1978 inventory to ensure accuracy. Experienced goldsmiths will be involved, and the process will include digital photography and cataloguing with details such as weight and make,' he said. According to the 1978 inventory report, the Ratna Bhandar contains around 128 kg of gold and over 200 kg of silver, along with several ornaments that have gold coatings. The minister also revealed that the State government plans to prepare a new set of gold and silver ornaments for the Trinity — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — for the Suna Besha ritual.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- General
- 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
09-07-2025
- General
- 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.'
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Time of India
Govt plans for Rath Yatra 2026 with focus on rising vehicular traffic
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In the wake of severe traffic congestion during this year's Rath Yatra, the Odisha govt has planned comprehensive measures to effectively handle increasing vehicular traffic during festivals. Puri, which hosts lakhs of devotees during its celebrated annual festivals, including Rath Yatra, Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha, witnessed unprecedented vehicular traffic this year, pushing its existing infrastructure to its limits. The situation has prompted govt authorities to reassess the pilgrim city's traffic management system. "The govt will make Puri future-ready to effectively deal with heavy vehicular flow. After witnessing unimaginable rush of vehicles, we have already initiated a preliminary discussion keeping an eye on long-term solutions," law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said. Statistical data reveals the magnitude of the challenge: while the city had designated 21 parking lots with a maximum capacity of 6,500 four-wheelers during the recent festivals (Rath Yatra on June 27, Bahuda Yatra on July 5 and Suna Besha on July 6), the actual influx exceeded 20,000 vehicles per day. This threefold surge in traffic volume left law enforcement personnel scrambling to maintain order with limited resources. "The govt has planned a collaborative approach, bringing together various stakeholders, including former district collectors, superintendents of police and urban planning experts. This consortium will work to develop sustainable solutions for Puri's growing traffic management needs," Harichandan added. Commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena outlined the govt's multi-pronged approach to address these challenges. "The chief minister (Mohan Charan Majhi) already announced Puri's elevation to municipal corporation status. This will unlock new possibilities for infrastructural development. This administrative upgrade will facilitate larger budgetary allocations and enable implementation of modern traffic management systems," Jena said. Local residents and business owners have called for urgent infrastructural development ahead of next year's Rath Yatra. "The number of four-wheelers is increasing rapidly. Those who used to travel Puri via trains and buses have their own cars now. Even though Puri's parking facilities have improved in the last four to five years, they need further enhancement," Debasis Das, convenor of Srikhetra Swabhiman Mancha, a Puri-based cultural outfit, said. Hoteliers said that parking infrastructure and enhanced traffic management are essential to handle potential rise in the arrival of tourists to Puri as per govt's 'Vision Document 2036 and 2047'. "Puri's economic potential is closely tied to its ability to handle large crowds during festivals. Modern infrastructure will not only benefit pilgrims but also boost local tourism and commerce," Debasis Kumar, vice-president of Hotel Association of Puri, said. Kumar suggested that development of more parking facilities, implementation of smart traffic management systems, construction of new road networks to reduce congestion, integration of public transport solutions and installation of modern surveillance systems may help authorities to address the traffic issue. "As Puri continues to attract increasing numbers of devotees and tourists, these infrastructure developments are crucial steps toward maintaining the city's status as one of India's top pilgrim destinations," Kumar said.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
Puri Rath Yatra: Know About 'Adhar Pana' Ritual And Its Significance
The 'Adhara Pana' ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra was observed on Monday on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) in Puri. The ritual marks one of the concluding ceremonies of the Rath Yatra festival in which servitors offer sweet water to the deities on the chariots, a day before their return to the Jagannath temple in Puri. Adhara Pana is a special type of sweet drink in which cheese, milk, sugar and spices are mixed. The idols of Lord Balabhadra and his siblings, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, are on their chariots, which have been placed outside the shrine since July 5, when 'Bahuda Yatra' was held. ରଥାରୂଢ଼ ଶ୍ରୀବିଗ୍ରହଙ୍କ ଠାରେ ଆଜି ପବିତ୍ର ଅଧରପଣା ନୀତି ସମ୍ପାଦିତ ହେଉଛି। #RathaJatra2025 #RathaYatra2025 #ShreeJagannathaDhaam #AdharaPana — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) July 7, 2025 "As per the tradition, the Pana or sweet water pots are broken on the chariots so that the spirits and ghosts that surrounded the chariots during the Rath Yatra, get their thirst quenched," Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in the Jagannath culture, said as quoted by PTI. 'Suna Besha' Of Lord Jagannath In Puri Around 15 lakh devotees on Sunday witnessed 'Suna Besha' (golden attire) ritual on chariots. The idols were decorated with golden attire, with sibling deities wearing gold jewellery weighing nearly 208 kg on the occasion of Suna Besha, which translates to "Golden Attire" or "Golden Adornment," symbolising divine prosperity, victory of good over evil and the Lord's eternal guardianship over the universe. It is observed five times a year, with the most significant one taking place on Bahuda Ekadashi, the day after the return of the deities from the Gundicha Temple during the Ratha Yatra festival. ରଥାରୂଢ଼ ଶ୍ରୀଜୀଉଙ୍କର ବଡ଼ ତଢ଼ାଉ ବେଶ ବା ସୁନାବେଶ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହୋଇଅଛି। The Suna Besha of the deities atop the chariots has been completed. #RathaJatra2025 #RathaYatra2025 #ShreeJagannathaDhaam #Sunabesha2025 — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) July 6, 2025 Suna Besha represents the supreme sovereignty of Lord Jagannath and is a celebration of devotion, faith and community. It's a moment when the mortal world merges with the divine, filling devotees with hope, peace, and spiritual awakening. The tradition of Suna Besha is believed to have originated during the reign of King Kapilendra Deva in the 15th century CE, who donated gold and diamonds to Lord Jagannath after conquering southern kingdoms.
