A day before the grand Rath Yatra, thousands of devotees flocked to Puri, Odisha, on Thursday to witness the ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ — the reappearance of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra at the 12th-century Jagannath Temple.
Devotees arrived at the temple’s ‘Singha Dwar’ (Lion’s Gate) well before sunrise to catch a glimpse of the deities on the sacred ‘Ratna Bedi’ (platform inside the sanctum). This public appearance comes after a fortnight-long absence following the Snana Purnima bathing ritual on June 11.
“It is believed that the deities fall ill after the bathing ritual and rest in isolation in the ‘Anasar Ghar’ for 15 days before reappearing rejuvenated,” explained Bhaskar Mishra, a Jagannath culture researcher.
According to a media report, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the temple was opened for ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ from 8 am to 10:30 am. The deities, dressed in their special youthful attire for the ‘Nabajouban Besha’, symbolize a return to health and vitality. This occasion is also known as Netra Utsav or the “eye-opening festival”, during which their eyes are ceremonially painted — a sacred ritual performed secretly by designated temple servitors.
Paid darshan (‘parmanik’) was allowed from 8 to 9 am, followed by general public darshan until 10:30 am, after which the temple doors were closed for the day.
SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee confirmed that the ritual went smoothly with the cooperation of all servitors, expressing hope for a successful Rath Yatra.
Meanwhile, preparations for the grand procession are in full swing. The three wooden chariots — ‘Taladwaja’ for Lord Balabhadra, ‘Debadalan’ for Devi Subhadra, and ‘Nandighosh’ for Lord Jagannath — have been completed and will be brought from the chariot yard to the temple’s main gate on Thursday afternoon.
For the Rath Yatra on June 27, massive security arrangements have been put in place. Over 10,000 personnel from Odisha Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed. For the first time, National Security Guard (NSG) commandos are also on duty, stationed on rooftops for surveillance. Around 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras have been installed across Puri for enhanced monitoring.
Special measures have been implemented for crowd control, traffic regulation, medical aid, and other essential services. Security has also been tightened around the Sri Gundicha Temple, where the deities’ chariots will be stationed for a week. Coastal security is being jointly managed by the Odisha Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy.