The sacred town of Puri witnessed a vital healing ritual today as the celebrated sibling deities—Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—underwent the traditional Dasamula Modaka therapy as part of their recuperation in the Anasara Ghara.
Following the ceremonial Snana Purnima, during which the deities are ritually bathed, the trio was taken into seclusion due to illness, as per age-old traditions. Now, on the 11th day of the Anasara period, the deities were administered Dasamula Modaka—a potent herbal concoction prepared by the temple’s Raj Vaidya (royal physician).
The ritual, coinciding with Ekadashi tithi, included the application of a soothing sandalwood paste on the idols, symbolising holistic rejuvenation. Clothed in vibrant Rakta Bastra (red garments), the deities were presented the Dasamula Modaka to aid in complete healing.
This offering is regarded as the final and most essential treatment before the Lords are ready to return to the sanctum sanctorum. Tomorrow, on Dwadashi, the temple will host the Raja Prasad Bije procession, a ceremonial declaration of the deities’ recovery to Puri Gajapati Maharaj—an event steeped in royal reverence and community devotion.
The rituals not only highlight Odisha’s deep-rooted spiritual culture but also usher in anticipation for the upcoming Rath Yatra, as devotees await the reappearance of their beloved deities with renewed vigour.
