Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath is known as the
City of Festivals. As many as 62 festivals are observed here round the
year all related to Lord Jagannath. Out of all these festivals a few
important of them have been mentioned here. The festivals of Lord
Jagannath are described more or less in the Puranas like Brahma, Padma
and Skanda etc. In the Niladri Mohadayam, How ever we find the detail
account of festivals associated with the worship Purusottam Jagannath.
AVHISHEKA
The annual cycle of festivals of Lord Jagannath begins with Abhishekas
or the coronation ceremony of the Lord on the full-moon day in the month
of "Pausha" (Dec-Jan). Hence it is known, as "Pushyavisheka"
or coronation done in the month of 'Pausa'.
Dola Yatra ( Holi Festival )
The Holi festival is celebrated all over India with spiritual fervor
and abundant gay and joy in the month of March. This is the spring
festival of colors, which is quite popular among Indians. Lord Jagannath
is no exception. He also celebrates this festival on a Pandal, Dola Bedi
that is outside the main shrine. On this occasion replicas of the
deities are taken to this altar and placed on a swing for five days.
Rituals are performed to symbolize playful role of Lord Krishna with the
Gop/s of Brindavan.
Chandan Yatra
This fewtival begins on the third day of the bright fortnight of
Baisaksh Akshay Trutiya for 21 days (April-May). The first 21 days are
called Bahar Chandan, because during this period the images of Rama,
Krishan, Madanmohan, Laxmi and Saraswati are taken out side, in a
procession daily to Narendra Tank. The five Shivas known as Pancha
Pandavas namely, Lokanath, Yameswar, Markendeya, Kapal Mochan and
Nilakanth with Lord Madan Mohan (the representative of Lord Jagannath)
to the Narendra Tank. In a well decorated boat Madanmohan, Laxmi and
Saraswati are placed and in another are placed Rama, Krishna and five
Shivas for cruising in the tank with the accompaniment of music and
songs. This is known as outer Chandan Yatra.
Snana Yatra (The Bathing Festival)
On the full moon day of the month Jyestha (May-June). This Yatra or
bathing ceremony takes place. On thisday, the three dieties along with
Madan Mohan and Sudarshan are brought in a colourful procession to a
platform in the outer enclosure of the temple, the Snana Vedi, the
bathing platform, where they bathe with one hundred and eight pictures
of performed water drawn from a Suna-Kuan (Golden-well) located in the
campus of the Shrine of Goddess Sitala near the northern gate way. This
well is used for this purpose only once a year. After the ritual bath,
the deities assume the special elephant form, recalling the legend of
the lords affection for a devotee when he proved that he was in fact
another manifestation of Lord Ganesh.
AnasaraAfter the "Snana Yatra" the deities remains in
the Anasar House for 15 days during which period nobody, not even the
Pandas are allowed there, as the deities are supposed to be suffering
from fever because of the bathing ceremony. The Daitas (A class of
Sevaks of the temple) only worship them secretly in their system of
worship during this period.
After the cycle of festivals connected with the car festival in the
month of Srabana (July) comes the Chitalagi Amavasya which is observed
on the new moon day of Srabana (July) of course there is nothing much
festive about it, but a large crowd assembles in the Temple to witness
the wearing of the ornaments of the three images which had been taken
out during the bathing festival
