Hundreds of devotees thronged the Alarnath Temple near Brahmagiri in Puri district today as Lord Jagannath and His siblings entered the Anasara period after Debasnana Purnima.
The deities undergo a fortnight-long hibernation following the ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of holy water. During this time, devotees turn to the 13th-century Alarnath Temple to offer prayers and seek blessings. Temple authorities made elaborate arrangements for smooth darshan, and pilgrims lined up since early morning.
The temple is renowned for its idol of a four-armed standing Vishnu carved from black chlorite. Devotees also relish the famous khiri (rice porridge), which holds a special legend. According to belief, the deity once tasted khiri when a priest forgot to offer it, leaving drops on the idol’s face.
Residents of Brahmagiri recall that Saint Chaitanya popularised the temple as a devotional destination during Anasara after he missed Lord Jagannath’s darshan in Puri. The shrine is believed to have been established by rulers of the Alwar dynasty of Rajasthan, giving it the name Alarnath.
The temple continues to attract pilgrims during this period, blending devotion, tradition and culinary heritage.
