Puri: The sacred Sunia festival, marking the traditional New Year of the Puri royal family, is being celebrated with great devotion and splendour across the holy town today. The occasion carries deep religious, cultural, and historical significance, especially for the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri.
This year, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb entered his 69th Anka (regnal year), heralding the beginning of the 1433 Sal. A special Abhisheka will be conducted at the royal palace in the evening, followed by Gadi Puja at various mutts across Puri. The day is regarded as highly auspicious, with many devotees choosing it to begin new ventures and seek divine blessings.
Adding to the sanctity of the day, Bamana Janma Niti rituals are being observed at Shree Jagannath Temple to commemorate the birth of Lord Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Falling on Bhadraba Shukla Dwadasi Tithi, these rituals hold immense spiritual importance for the Holy Trinity—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced that public darshan will remain suspended between 5 pm and 8 pm, after the Madhyahna Dhupa, to allow servitors to conduct the ceremonies without disruption.
Meanwhile, Parswa Paribartana rituals of Garuda are also underway, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere. With Sunia and Bamana Janma Niti coinciding this year, Puri has transformed into a vibrant hub of faith and tradition, resonating with centuries-old rituals.
