Lord Jagannath’s Adhara Pana ritual completed, Niladri Bije tomorrow
The Adhara Pana ritual, translating to ‘lip juice,’ involves offering the deities a sweet drink made from milk cream, cheese, sugar, bananas, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper, and other spices.
Puri: The Adhara Pana rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra completed today as the consented servitors performed the sacred rituals on their respective chariots.
The Adhara Pana ritual was held amid tight security and devotion of the devotees. Lakhs of devotees had gathered to witness the glimpse of the deities before their Niladri Bije (the return of the deities to the sanctum sanctorium of the Shree Jagannath Temple tomorrow. The Niladri Bije ritual symbolizes the end of the world famous Rath Yatra.
The Adhara Pana ritual, translating to ‘lip juice,’ involves offering the deities a sweet drink made from milk cream, cheese, sugar, bananas, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper, and other spices. The preparation of this drink is a meticulous process, with skilled Supakaras blending the ingredients to create the sacred offering. Large cylindrical earthen terracotta pots, crafted by the skilled potters of Kumbharpada, are used in this ritual.
Adharapana will be offered to the three deities on their respective chariots in big cylindrical earthen pots. And then the three pots will be broken so that the Parswa Devas and Devis (side deities) of the chariot as well as the evil spirits can get Adharapana.
This special ritual is performed on the Dwadashi tithi, the 12th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Asadha. Special pots have been made for Adharapana. The Pana will be prepared in these pots and will be offered to the Lord.
Three pots of Adharapana is offered to each of the deities. After the pana (juice) is offered to the deities, as per tradition, these pots are broken allowing the juice to flow on the chariots.
