Puri: A unique and deeply symbolic ritual unfolded inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Monday after Lord Jagannath left the Ratna Singhasana (Jewelled Throne) and proceeded to the Snana Bedi (bathing altar) for the annual Snana Yatra.
With the deities absent from the Garbhagriha, the temple’s traditional Chandua (canopy cloth) was removed as part of an age-old custom observed only during this period. The cloth, having remained above the sanctum throughout the year, had accumulated thick layers of black soot from the oil lamps that burn continuously inside the shrine.
As the Chunara Sevayats removed the Chandua, they were completely covered in the sacred soot. Emotional scenes followed when the soot-laden canopy was brought out through the Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate), with devotees and sevayats alike becoming smeared with the black residue, which they regard as a sacred blessing.
A Chunara Sevayat said the black soot, locally revered as “Kalia Kala”, forms an integral part of Lord Jagannath’s service.
“This black soot is a holy part of Mahaprabhu’s seva. Touching this residue from the lamps that burn all year in the Lord’s sanctum and applying it to one’s body brings an unparalleled sense of spiritual peace,” he said.
The annual Chandua removal ceremony is among the lesser-known traditions of the Jagannath Temple, performed only after the deities leave the sanctum for the Snana Bedi, adding to the rich ritual heritage associated with the temple’s centuries-old customs.
