Jagannath Puri temple decked-up on Snana Purnima, preparations in full-swing for Rath Yatra - Pics, Video

Pic Courtesy: Twitter/@JagannathaDhaam

New Delhi: Lord Jagannath's famous Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha is about to begin on July 12 amid COVID-19 protocol in place. Ahead of the big festival, preparations and pre-festive rituals have already begun. On June 24, Thursday, being Snana Purnima - Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra idols reached the Snana Mandap and devotees could watch it virtually.

No crowd has been allowed this year keeping the pandemic situation in mind. According to Samarth Varma, District Magistrate of Puri, Pahandi rituals will start around 1 am and Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra will reach the Snana mandap. "Once in a year, God comes outside so that people of other religions can get `darshan`. So lakhs of people gathered every year outside the temple every year. This year, however, the thousand-year ritual will be performed witnessed virtually," Varma told ANI.

WATCH: Deba Snana Purnima being celebrated in #Puri, #Odisha, without devotees due to the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic.#debasnanapurnima

(ANI) pic.twitter.com/3A7Bnm7XHD — Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) June 24, 2021

Visuals from #Puri, #Odisha's Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Deba Snana Purnima.

Celebrations began in the absence of devotees amid the #COVID19 pandemic.#debasnanapurnima #Jagannath

(ANI) pic.twitter.com/YcIm9zInFb — Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) June 24, 2021

ଆଜି ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା ତିଥିରେ ଶ୍ରୀ ମନ୍ଦିରରେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ପବିତ୍ର ସ୍ନାନଯାତ୍ରା ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହେଉଛି। ସର୍ବପ୍ରଥମେ ମଙ୍ଗଳାର୍ପଣ, ଡୋରଲାଗି ଓ ପୁଷ୍ପାଞ୍ଜଳି ହେବା ପରେ ଶ୍ରୀ ବିଗ୍ରହ ମାନଙ୍କର ପହଣ୍ଡି ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥାଏ । ରତ୍ନବେଦୀରୁ ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତିଙ୍କୁ ଧାଡ଼ି ପହଣ୍ଡିରେ ସାତ ପାହାଚ ଦେଇ ସ୍ନାନ ବେଦୀରେ ବିଜେ କରାଯାଏ । pic.twitter.com/FpyEptsctN

— Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 24, 2021

SNANA PURNIMA RITUAL TIMINGS:

Mangalaparna from 1 am, Pahandi till 4 am. Hati Besha from 11 am onwards and Bahuda Pahandi between 5 pm and 8 pm respectively, according to Odishatv.in

pic.twitter.com/sJN4mpRMyU — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 24, 2021

 Today's Patitapaban Darshan at Shree Jagannatha Temple, #Puri. pic.twitter.com/V9RszEYpIV — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 24, 2021

Only fully vaccinated people with COVID negative report to be allowed in the temple, Chief Administrator of the temple Dr Krishan Kumar informed. 

"There will be no gathering outside the temple has Sec 144 will be enforced by district administration. We`ll just follow traditional rituals. After this, Lord Jagannath will take rest for 15 days and reappear during Rath Yatra," Kumar told ANI.

The gates of Lord Jagannath Puri's abode - the 11th-century temple, will open on June 25, 2021, after several weeks of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the day will be observed without the physical presence of thousands of devotees. Instead, the festival will be live-streamed for devotees across the world. 

Jai Jagannath!

(with ANI inputs)