29/06/2026
Shri Mandira at Puri is celebrating Snana Purnima of Shri Jius( जीउ - प्रभु). Celebrated on Jyeshtha Shukla Purnima, the ocassion sees bathing ritual of the trinity(Bada Thakura Balabhadra, Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha Deva and Maa Subhadra) on Snana Mandap. It is also known as Devasnana Purnima /Jyestha Purnima. According to Skanda Purana, Devasnana Purnima is also the birth date of Shree Jagannatha Deva. On this day, Sri Jeeu take bath with a total of 108 garas ( Water pot/ pitcher) of water from the golden well in the in the temple (the golden well only in Puri Jagannatha Temple ), respectively Badabada Manima Prabhu Balabhadra takes bath with 33 garas, Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha with 35 garas, Maa Subhadra with 22 garas and Chakraraja Sudarshana with 18 garas. On this day, after the bathing ceremony, Gajanana Besha / Haati Besha of Shree Jeeu is celebrated. According to legend, a devotee named Ganapati Bhatta from distant Maharashtra came to Purastam / Purushottama Kshetra ( Ancient name of current Puri district) to have darshan of Shree Jagannatha, but after seeing Jagannatha, he felt disappointed and returned in sorrow. Later, in a dream, Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannatha ordered him to return again and appeared to him in the Gaja besha. Since then, Mahaprabhu has been appearing to devotees in this Gaja besha on the day of Snana Yatra. The ocassion marks a distinct symbol of unity, and acceptance stitching together Bhakts of all caste, creed and region.
