The public darshan at Puri’s Srimandir has been suspended until 2 PM on June 10 due to the observance of the Senapata Lagi ritual, a significant part of the Snana Yatra preparations.
This sacred ritual involves adorning Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra with Senapata (protective coverings) made from Baula wood, ahead of their ceremonial bath.
According to temple sources, darshan was restricted from Monday night’s Alati Pahuda to allow smooth execution of the ritual and preserve its sanctity and confidentiality.
The Snana Yatra, scheduled for June 11 (Wednesday), marks the formal beginning of the Rath Yatra festivities. On this occasion, the deities will be taken from the Ratna Singhasan to the Snana Mandap in a grand Pahandi procession.
The Daitapati Sevaks, traditional servitors of the temple, prepare the Senapata using Baula wood brought from Satyabadi. Each year, these coverings are crafted afresh to symbolically protect the divine bodies of the deities.
After the Snana (ritual bathing) with holy water from the Suna Kua (golden well)—108 pitchers in total—the deities will be dressed in the Hati Besha (Elephant attire) and grant darshan briefly before entering a two-week period of seclusion in Anasara Ghara, as they are believed to fall ill post-bath.
