Servitors suspended public darshan at the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Friday morning after noticing blood drops near the Bhitara Katha area.
The discovery occurred soon after the Mangala Alati ritual. Servitors alerted the temple administration and senior priests, who decided to conduct the Bada Mahasnana — a grand purification bath of the sibling deities — to restore sanctity inside the sanctum sanctorum.
During the Bada Mahasnana, entry remained restricted to authorised servitors only. The ritual, known as Gupta Niti, is considered confidential and sacred. Temple authorities performed the ceremony following traditional Srimandir customs.
After the completion of the purification ritual, temple officials resumed normal darshan for devotees. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration confirmed that all procedures adhered strictly to age-old practices.
Priests perform the Bada Mahasnana whenever impurities such as blood stains, vomiting, or death occur inside the temple premises. The ritual ensures the spiritual purity of the shrine before reopening it to the public.
