Vadodara Iskcon temple celebrate 39th Devasnana Purnima

Thursday begins with an auspicious day of Devasnana Purnima marks the beginning of the rituals which culminates on Rath Yatra. Today marks the commencement of the rituals at Puri and various temples all across the world observed the festival on this day as per the rituals continues from decades.

Iskcon temple Vadodara also celebrates the 39th Snana festival inside the temple premises and bathed Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and their sister Subhadra. As per the rituals the gods are believed to fall ill after and kept in separate room. Ayurvedic medicine is offered to the lord and everyone prays for their well being and then the doors of the temple opens on the Rath Yatra day.

On Thursday 691 types of Prasad is offered to the lord in Iskon temple. The Lord is bathed with auspicious water and fruit juices chanting mantras inside the temple. In view of the current scenario covid guidelines are strictly followed during the ritual.

Devasnana Purnima is an inseparable part of the famous Rath Yatra Puri. The day is believed to be the birthday of the Lord Jagannatha. This day, the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha, the deities are bathed by 108 pitchers of water of the well situated near the Sitala temple in the confines of the Jagannatha temple. Having been bathed, the deities are dressed up in the Gajanana or Ganesha Vesha. Then, their daily food offering or Bhogalagi is made on the Snanamandapa, in a full public view, without remaining any virtual difference between the devotees and the Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna. These traditions are followed before the legendary Ratha Yatra celebrated here.

The rituals performed in the festival are maintained in the 'Niladri Mohadaya', a religious text written in Oriya language. Devasnana Purnima or Snana Yatra, exclusively being the festival of Lord Jagannath, is believed to be one of the oldest festivals. As per the Skanda Purana, Raja Indradyumna set this bathing ceremony when he installed the wooden deities here. Apart from Puri, the festival is simultaneously celebrated in all other major shrines in Orissa. Due to its own importance and elaboration in Puri, thousands of national and international visitors come here to be a part of this grand celebration.

The Vadodara Iskon temple also observes the Snan Purnima since 1982 and deities are bathed following decade old traditions. The temple also organise the auspicious Rath Yatra every year and preparations are in the final stages, however they are awaiting a order from the government in view of the covid situation. This year the yatra is on 12th July where the Lord will bless the devotees.