: The annual Snan Yatra (bathing ceremony) of Lord Jagannath and His siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra concluded on Sunday in the shrine with much fervour and gaiety. However, the ritual witnessed almost a two-hour delay due to bloodspots detected on the Snan Mandap. For this, the deities had to bathe again which caused the delay.
Though the cause of bloodspot is yet not known, it is believed that some servitor during the Pahandi Bije of deities could have received a minor injury in the crowd.
Yet in another incident a pilgrim from Rajasthan was declared brought dead in the DHH, Puri after he had experienced unconsciousness during darshan of the deities near the Snana Bedi. The deceased identified as Ambalal Bhoi had blood pressure problem.
Early in the morning, the deities were taken to the Snana Bedi from the Sanctum Sanctorum through Pandi Bije. The servitors poured 108 pots of water accomplishing the morning rites. The water collected from Suna Kua (golden well) once a year for this occasion was mixed with various herbs and indigenous scents before the water was poured on the deities. The well is left abandoned for a year without use.
After the bathing ritual was over at 1.25 pm, the deities were decorated in Jumbo attire called Hati Besha. A large number of devotees and pilgrims notwithstanding the summer heat watched the attire entering the shrine through long barricades. Many pilgrims also witnessed the ceremony standing near the Lions Gate.
Before that, Puri King Dibyasigh Deb decorated in his royal attire had performed his customary Chhera Pahanra Niti on the Snan Bedi.