On the sacred occasion of Anasara Panchami today, the ailing Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra will undergo the traditional ‘Phuluri Tela Seva’, a ritual herbal oil treatment believed to cure the deities of fever following their grand ceremonial bath during Snana Yatra.
‘Phuluri Tela Seva’ is an ancient, secret ritual that has been practiced for over a thousand years. It is performed during the 15-day Anasara period when the deities are believed to rest and recover from the physical exhaustion caused by being bathed with 108 pitchers of aromatic and herbal water during Snana Purnima.
According to Jagannath culture expert Padmanabha Tripathy, the deities regain strength after this special treatment and are then revealed to the public during Naba Jaubana Darshan, just ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra.
The Phuluri oil is prepared with 24 natural ingredients by the Bada Odia Matha. The key components include:
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Pure sesame oil
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Fragrant flowers like Ketaki, Malli, Boula, Champa
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Sandalwood powder
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Camphor
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Roots, rice, grains, and select herbs
This specially prepared oil is stored underground on the day of Hera Panchami and matures for nearly a year. It is then used exclusively during Deva Snana Purnima to help the deities recover.
The Phuluri oil treatment marks a spiritually significant phase in the Rath Yatra calendar. It symbolizes the divine restoration of health and energy to the Lord and His siblings before they embark on their annual chariot journey from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri.
This year’s Rath Yatra preparations are already underway, with enhanced crowd management systems including AI cameras and mobile guidance apps for devotees.
As the Holy Trinity undergoes healing, millions of devotees look forward to witnessing their reappearance and participation in Rath Yatra, a spectacle of deep religious fervor and cultural grandeur.
