Puri, | July 7 (OT webdesk) — The historic Bada Danda in Puri bore witness today to the sacred Adhara Pana ritual—an offering of divine drinks to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—marking one of the culminating acts of the grand Rath Yatra.
Observed annually on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi, this ancient ritual blends symbolism and tradition, paying homage to unseen spiritual forces believed to accompany the deities.
As the Trinity rested atop their grand chariots after Suna Besha, Mahasuara servitors prepared the offering: a sweet sacred drink called Pana—a fragrant blend of milk, banana, chhena (cheese), camphor, nutmeg, black pepper, and water.
Each chariot received nine large earthen pots filled with this holy mixture.
In a deliberate gesture of spiritual liberation, these pots were broken after the offering, allowing the liquid to flow across the chariot platforms—not for human consumption, but dedicated to subsidiary deities and wandering spirits, ensuring protection and cosmic balance.
The ritual began at 4:30 PM and continued until 8:30 PM, with throngs of devotees observing in reverence.
Tomorrow marks Niladri Bije, when the deities return to their sanctum in the Srimandir, concluding the divine journey that began with Rath Yatra.
