Birthday of Sri Jagannath (Snana Yatra) Festival

Lord Sri Krishna, Jagannath is the God of the Universe and so in spirit is the authentic maker of everything and nothing can exist without Him. In one sense then everything is Lord Krishna, at least coming from Him. Just as in the formation of a consequence from a unique foundation the by-product has, it's continuation by connection with the initial object.

A unique bath of Jagannath takes place on the Purnima of Jyestha month, to honor the emergence day of Lord Jagannath.

According to Skanda Purana when Raja Indradyumna set up the lumber gods, he set this bathing ritual. This day believe to be the birthday of Lord Jagannath. This festival is held in the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha. This festival is also held at the same time in all other important Puri and it draws thousands of devotees and pilgrims from all over the country.

'Niladri Mohadaya', a spiritual manuscript written in Orissan keeps details of the rite of the celebration. Sriharsa in his 'naisadhiya Charita' (XV.89) also passes on to this festival of Purushottama. This bathing ceremony has a specialty. As this event does not find reference in the early sacred texts, it is supposed to be an ethnic observance. Lord Jagannath in His first form was being adored as Nilamadhava by a Savara ruler called Viswabasu. The tale is nicely told in the drama Jagannath Priyan natakam. Until now, it is the Daitas and Savars who have the elite right to conduct the festival. The tribals called Saoras still carry out a ritual to soak their Deities ceremonially on the last day of the month of Jyestha.

On the preceding day of Snana Yatra, the descriptions of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra along with the image of Sudarshana are ceremonially fetched out from the hut in a parade to the Bathing pandal. This extraordinary pandal in the holy place area of Puri is called Snana Mandap. It is at such an altitude that visitors positioned exterior to the temple also get a sight of the Deities.