All schools within the Puri Municipality area will remain closed on Monday in view of Deba Snana Purnima (Snana Yatra), one of the most significant annual rituals associated with Lord Jagannath. The decision has been taken to manage the massive influx of devotees and traffic restrictions expected during the festival.
The Office of the District Education Officer (DEO), Puri, has issued an official notification directing the closure of all educational institutions within the notified areas. The holiday will apply to government schools, government-aided schools, Shishu Vatika (pre-primary), and all private schools up to Class XII located within the Puri Municipality limits.
In addition, the order also covers Mothers Public School at Gorual, Prabhushree English Medium School at Malatipatpur, and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya in Puri Sadar, despite their location outside the municipal limits.
According to the notification, the closure has been ordered following the directions of the Puri District Collector to ensure the safety and convenience of students amid heavy crowds and extensive traffic regulations during the annual festival.
Grand Preparations Completed for Snana Yatra
Meanwhile, preparations for the grand Snana Purnima festival have been completed at the Jagannath Temple. The ceremonial rituals have already begun, with the sacred water being drawn from the temple’s Suna Kua (Golden Well) for the holy bathing ceremony of the deities.
As part of the traditional rituals, the deities receive their annual public ceremonial bath, known as Jyeshtha Snana, on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. This is the only occasion in the year when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan are bathed publicly before devotees.
Following the completion of the Senapata Lagi ritual on Sunday, the Chaturthi Homa will be performed before the deities retire for the night.
Snana Purnima Ritual Schedule
According to the temple schedule:
- 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM: Pahandi procession of the deities to the Snana Mandap.
- 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM: Jal Bije and the ceremonial bathing ritual.
- 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM: Hati Besha (Elephant Attire) of the deities.
- 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM: Sahana Mela for public darshan.
- 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM: Bahuda Pahandi, during which the deities return to the sanctum.
During the sacred bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannath will be bathed with 35 pitchers of holy water, Lord Balabhadra with 33 pitchers, Devi Subhadra with 22 pitchers, and Sudarshan with 18 pitchers.
The temple administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the Jal Bije ritual and Hati Besha, while special measures have been put in place for crowd management and security to facilitate a safe and orderly celebration of the festival.