The sacred Adharapana Niti, one of the most significant concluding rituals of Rath Yatra 2026, will be observed in Puri on Sunday.
The ritual takes place a day after the grand Suna Besha, when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are adorned with golden ornaments while seated on their respective chariots.
Adharapana Niti is a unique tradition in Jagannath culture, symbolising the offering of a special aromatic drink to subsidiary deities and disembodied souls believed to accompany the sibling deities during the annual chariot festival.
What is Adharapana Niti?
According to Jagannath tradition, Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra is not only attended by devotees but is also believed to attract divine attendants, celestial beings and departed souls. Adharapana Niti is performed to offer them liberation and blessings before the deities return to the sanctum of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
The ritual is conducted on all three chariots—Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana—after the completion of Suna Besha.
Special aromatic drink prepared for the ritual
During Adharapana Niti, servitors prepare a traditional aromatic drink known as Adharapana using nine key ingredients, including milk, cream, chhena (fresh cottage cheese), ripe bananas, sugar, black pepper powder, nutmeg, camphor and water.
The sacred water used for the preparation is brought by Pania Apata servitors from the well at Chhauni Math, located near the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple.
Nine earthen pots offered on the chariots
As part of the ritual, nine tall earthen pots filled with Adharapana are placed on the three chariots, with three pots offered on each chariot.
The pots are positioned so that they reach the lips of the deities. After the offering is completed by the Puja Panda servitors, the earthen pots are ceremonially broken on the chariots.
Unlike other offerings made during Rath Yatra, the Adharapana is not distributed among devotees. According to tradition, it is meant exclusively for the subsidiary deities and unseen spiritual beings accompanying the deities during the festival.
Niladri Bije to conclude Rath Yatra 2026
Following the completion of Adharapana Niti, the final ritual of the annual Rath Yatra, Niladri Bije, will be observed on July 27.
During Niladri Bije, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra descend from their chariots and ceremonially return to the Shree Jagannath Temple, where they reoccupy the sacred Ratna Singhasana, marking the conclusion of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations.
