North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: Unique Tradition of Puri: Devotees from all over the world eagerly wait for the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which emerged every year in Puri, Odisha. But do you know that just before this journey, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra fall ‘sick’ for 15 days? Yes, it is a unique and deep faith -related tradition, called ‘Unsar’ or ‘Anavasar’ period.
What happens in these 15 days?
The festival of ‘Snan Purnima’ is celebrated just before the Rath Yatra. On this day Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are bathed with 108 pots fragrant water. It is believed that after taking so much bath, God gets fever or he falls ill.
Just as humans relax when they fall ill, similarly God also lives in solitude for these 15 days. During this time:
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Darshan remains closed: God’s darshan is stopped for the devotees.
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Confidential treatment: God is treated secretly. They are given ordinary water and fruit juice, and no ripe food is offered.
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Dashmool extract: Vaidya and priest (called Daitapati Sevdar) gives God a special ‘Dashmul extract’ made of herbs so that they can be healthy soon.
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Service of Daitapati Sevdars: For these 15 days, only Daitapati sevadars serve God. They consider God as a child and take care of them.
Why is this tradition?
There is deep recognition behind this tradition. It shows that God is also like us humans – they also fall ill, they also need rest. It brings devotees closer to God, makes them realize that God also goes through human experiences. This tradition deepens affection and dedication to God.
Darshan and Rath Yatra:
After 15 days, God is fully healthy and gives the devotees ‘new youth’. On this day he can be seen again in young and healthy form. Soon after, Jagannath Rath Yatra is taken out, in which millions of devotees participate. This tradition gives an opportunity to witness this wonderful human form of God every year.
