‘Raksha Bandhan’ & ‘Balabhadra Janma’ Is Celebrating In Shreemandir
Puri: Today is a very special day in Jagannth culture. Two festivals are celebrated in the Puri Jagannath temple on Holy Rakshi Purnima or Gahma Purnima. Lord Balabhadra has taken birth today. Therefore, a special rituals has been made on the occasion of Balabhadra’s birth in the temple.
On the occasion of Rakshi Purnima, Devi Subhadra ties the Rakshi on the hands of her two brothers, Balabhadra and Jagannath.
For this, a special Nitikanti (ritual) is being held in the temple. After the midday incense, sister Subhadra will tied the Rakhi to brothers Sree Balabhadra and Sree Jagannath. Servants will attach special Rakhi and Guamaal prepared by Patara Bishoyi to the Lord as a symbol of the sacred brother-sister relationship. In the same way Balabhadra’s birth will take place in the Markand pool.
Every year on this Rakshi Purnima, Balabhadra’s birthday is celebrated. On this day, after enjoying the food at Bhog Mandap, Sudharshan was taken to Markand Pushkarni (pond). Balabhadra’s birth is celebrated there. There the servants make an earthen pupet as a symbol of Balabhadra. In that they provide the biographies called mantras. This clay pupet is worshiped by devotees in various rituals.
On this occasion, the temple offers a special Bhog as Gahma manda to Deities.