Siliguri, 22nd June: The ISKCON temple in Siliguri celebrated the traditional bathing rituals of Lord Jagannath in anticipation of the Rath Yatra, which will take place in 15 days. Preparations for the festival began on Saturday with these sacred rituals.
The bathing ceremony, known as “Snana Yatra,” involved Lord Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra being bathed with water collected from various pilgrimage sites, including the Ganga river, as well as with milk and curd. According to tradition, it is believed that Lord Jagannath falls ill after the bathing ritual, prompting the temple doors to remain closed.
After recovering from the supposed fever, Lord Jagannath will embark on his journey to his aunt’s place on the day of the Rath Yatra. The ritual attracted a large number of devotees to the ISKCON temple, who gathered to participate in the auspicious occasion.