SnannaYatra – 2025

Jagannatha Snana Jatra (Snana Purnima) is a major ceremonial bathing festival associated with Lord Jagannatha, held annually at the Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Odisha. It marks one of the most important events in the prelude to the famous Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival).

Snanna Yatra is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Jyestha (usually in June).  Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are brought out from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana Mandapa (bathing platform). The idols are bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water drawn from the Golden Well (Suna Kua) located within the temple premises. This ritual is believed to purify and energise the deities.  This is the only time before Rath Yatra when devotees can see the deities in the open, outside the temple sanctum. It is called ‘Snana Vedi Darshan’.  After the bath, the deities are dressed in special elephant-like costumes (Hati Besha (Elephant Attire)) to resemble Lord Ganesha, symbolising the unity of divine forms.

After the Snana Jatra, the deities are said to fall ill due to the heavy bathing and enter a period of rest known as Anasara, lasting approximately 15 days. During this time, devotees cannot see them, and special Ayurvedic treatments are said to be offered to help them “recover”.

The festival symbolises the concept of divine vulnerability and humanity, portraying that even gods go through illness and recovery. It also reflects deep-rooted rituals in the Jagannatha cult, which integrates tribal, Vedic, and folk traditions. Snana Jatra is believed to be the day when Lord Jagannatha first appeared in his wooden form, making it a day of spiritual importance. The festival attracts thousands of devotees and tourists to Puri, serving as a spiritual highlight in the lead-up to the world-renowned Rath Yatra.