Puri: The sacred Adhara Pana ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be performed on their respective chariots in Puri on Sunday as part of the ongoing Rath Yatra festivities.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has completed all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the traditional ritual.
Ahead of the ceremony, the temple administration, in coordination with Raghavadas Matha and Bada Odiya Matha, has made elaborate preparations. Nine specially prepared earthen pots required for the Adhara Pana offering have been arranged for the ritual.
According to the schedule issued by the SJTA, preparations for the Adhara Pana will begin after the completion of the Madhyahna Dhupa ritual. The rituals on the chariots will commence with the Mangala Alati at 6 am, followed by other customary rituals. The Madhyahna Dhupa is scheduled between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, following which the Adhara Pana preparations will begin.
The ritual is expected to be completed on all three chariots by 8 pm. The ceremony holds a special place in the annual Rath Yatra tradition and is observed before the deities return to the Shree Jagannath Temple during the Niladri Bije ceremony.
As part of the ritual, a special sacred drink known as Adhara Pana is prepared by temple servitors according to age-old customs. The preparation includes ingredients such as milk, chhena, sugar, bananas and spices. The drink is then offered to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on their respective chariots.
During the ceremony, large earthen pots filled with Adhara Pana are placed near the lips of the deities on the chariots. The ritual derives its name from this practice, with ‘Adhara’ referring to the lips and ‘Pana’ meaning a drink.
Temple servitors perform special rituals and offer the sacred beverage with traditional mantras and ceremonies. After the offering is completed, the earthen pots are ceremonially broken on the chariots as part of the age-old tradition.
According to religious belief, the Adhara Pana offering is not only made for the presiding deities but also for divine beings, guardian deities and unseen spiritual companions believed to have accompanied Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra journey.
The breaking of the pots marks the completion of the sacred offering and signifies an important ritual milestone before the deities’ return to the main temple.
The Adhara Pana ceremony continues to remain one of the most revered traditions associated with the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
