Photo feature
Photos and text: Zaid Islam
The annual bathing ritual of Lord Jagannath and his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, was celebrated on June 2nd, during the full moon of Bengali month Jaistha.
The ceremony is observed at Tanti Bazar in Old Dhaka as it is observed elsewhere at all Jagannath temples around the world, following the largest one in Puri, India. Lord Jagannath along with his two siblings leave the temple to go to their snan bedi or platform of bathing. Devotees bathe them by pouring milk on the deities heads, making offerings of fruits, and placing flowers.
A majority of women were seen at this festival which was also attended by men and children. The milk that rolls down from the deities after washing, is treated as sacred blessing, collected and taken home by the devotees in small containers. The remaining of the milk is later used by the worshipers in celebration, pouring it over one another as blessing, dancing and chanting the lords name.
After the ceremony, the deities are washed with sacred water, and taken back to the temple. Six weeks later, during the new moon, Lord Jagannath is to mount his chariot for the annual Ratha Jatra, yet another festival of blessings, joy, and merriment by the devotees.
