Bhubaneswar: Rituals are the lifeline of the Puri Jagannath temple. They bring the deities to life, connecting devotees with the divine. The temple’s rich tradition and heritage are deeply rooted in its rituals. That’s why rituals are an integral part of the sacred narrative. And without rituals, Lord Jagannath is incomplete.
Among these, the Senapata Lagi ritual stands out as a crucial ceremony, adorning the Lord and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, with sacred armour ahead of the grand Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra festivals.
The nitis of Jagannath can be broadly categorised into three parts: daily, occasional, and festive. The daily nitis are the routine rituals that keep the divine machinery ticking, while the occasional nitis are observed during specific occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, and Amavasya. The festive nitis, on the other hand, are grand celebrations that spill out of the temple, like the Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra, or are observed with great fervour within the temple precincts, like the Jhulan Yatra.
Senapata Lagi: The Protective Adornment
The Senapata Lagi ritual is a significant ceremony that prepares the deities for the upcoming Snana Yatra festival. During this ritual, the deities are adorned with Senapata Bastra, a unique set of ceremonial attire crafted from sacred Baula wood. This divine armour symbolically protects the deities and prepares them for the public rituals that follow. As the temple gears up for the Snana Yatra, the Senapata Lagi ritual assumes great importance, ensuring that the deities are properly adorned and prepared for the festivities.
According to reports, the Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings is set to take place on Wednesday. Ahead of this grand celebration, the deities will be taken in a ceremonial procession, known as Pahandi, from the Ratna Singhasan to the Snana Mandap. To prepare for this occasion, the Senapata Lagi Niti is currently being performed, adorning the deities with sacred armour to protect Lord Jagannath’s divine form during the festivities.
As the Senapata Lagi Niti is currently being performed for Lord Jagannath and his siblings at the Srimandir, public darshan of the deities has been suspended until 2 PM on Tuesday. The temple gates have been closed to devotees since the Alati Pahuda ceremony began on Monday night, allowing the priests to conduct the rituals uninterrupted and ensuring their smooth execution. As the Senapata ritual is underway, public darshan of the deities will remain suspended till 2 PM.
