Puri: Daily rituals at the Jagannath Temple in Puri were briefly disrupted on Monday following the performance of Maha Snana—a grand purification ritual—after blood stains were discovered near the Dhukudi Dwara (southern gate) of the temple.
As a result, public darshan was suspended for approximately one hour.
According to sources, the incident occurred while darshan was underway. Servitors reportedly spotted blood stains near the Bhitara Katha, prompting immediate initiation of the Maha Snana ritual in accordance with temple protocol. It is suspected that a devotee may have suffered a leg injury, leading to the presence of blood near the gate.
The Maha Snana does not involve bathing the deities directly. Instead, the ritual is carried out by pouring sanctified water over mirrors placed in front of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, accompanied by Vedic chanting.
Such purification rituals are mandated in specific circumstances, including the presence of bodily fluids, animal or human death within the premises, or the intrusion of certain animals like dogs. The temple is also cleansed through an additional ritual known as Sodha.
The temple administration confirmed that regular rituals resumed after the completion of the purification process.
