The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, performed the Snana Purnima ritual on June 29, 2026, bathing the deities in 108 pots of holy water [1].

This ceremony serves as the official commencement of the countdown to the annual Rath Yatra. As one of the most significant pilgrimage events in India, the transition from the holy bath to the chariot festival represents a critical period of spiritual preparation for millions of followers.

The ritual involved the sacred bathing of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra [1]. According to temple records, the deities were bathed using 108 pots of holy water [1]. This specific number is central to the tradition of the Deva Snana Yatra, a purification process that precedes the deities' journey during the upcoming festival.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the temple complex to witness the proceedings [3]. The event was overseen by temple officials, including Chief Administrator Arabinda K. Padhee [1]. The presence of the crowds underscores the cultural and religious weight of the event, as the bath marks the beginning of the deities' period of seclusion before they emerge for the public procession.

Local authorities and temple management had prepared the site to accommodate the influx of pilgrims [3]. The Snana Purnima ritual is not merely a bath but a symbolic purification that cleanses the deities for their annual outing. This event traditionally triggers the preparations for the construction and decoration of the massive wooden chariots used during the Rath Yatra.

The timing of the ritual is tied to the full moon of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha [2]. By completing the bath on June 29, 2026 [2], the temple administration ensures the spiritual timeline is adhered to before the chariots are rolled out into the streets of Puri.

“The deities were bathed using 108 pots of holy water.”

The Snana Purnima ritual acts as the liturgical trigger for the Rath Yatra, shifting the temple's operational focus from daily worship to the massive logistical undertaking of the chariot festival. Because the ritual is the official start of the countdown, it signals to the regional economy and government that the peak pilgrimage season has begun, necessitating increased security and infrastructure support in Puri.