Every year, Hindus around the world celebrate an auspicious and joyful festival called Snana Yatra. It's especially important for devotees of Lord Jagannath, because some believe it's his birthday! This year, Snana Yatra 2024 falls on Saturday, June 22. Snana Yatra every year, takes place on the full moon (Purnima) in the Jyeshtha month which corresponds to May or June according to the Gregorian calendar.
Snana Yatra is also called Dev Snana Purnima and this ceremony takes place before the famous Jagannath Rath Yatra chariot festival in Puri, Odisha. On this special day, it's not just Lord Jagannath who gets celebrated. His brother, Lord Balabhadra, and his sister, Goddess Subhadra, are also honoured and worshipped.
During the beautiful ceremony, priests bathe all three deities with 108 pots of special, purified water from the Jagannath temple's well. The priests chant prayers while the ceremony is taking place. Many devotees believe that seeing the deities during Snana Yatra washes away their sins.
This special occasion draws thousands of people to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha every year. Of course, devotees all over the world would love to witness the Snana Yatra 2024, the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. While some can attend in person, many others from different cities and countries might not be able to make the trip for various reasons.
But don't worry! Even if you can't be there, you can still experience the beauty of Sn.
