Srimandir of Odisha’s Jagannath temple opens for devotees on Kumar Purnima after a yr’s hole

By Express News Service

PURI:  After a yr, Kumar Purnima pageant was celebrated with conventional fervour within the Sri Jagannath temple in presence of devotees on Wednesday. The Srimandir was closed for devotees final yr because of the pandemic.

However, with COVID circumstances dwindling and life returning to regular, the Sri Jagannath temple, the place the pageant is well known in a singular method, was stored open for devotees from 7 am to 9 pm on the day. As per custom, the ritual of ‘Kauri Khela’ (cube sport), a type of playing between Lord Jagannath and his consort Mahalaxmi, was carried out on the shrine.

Earlier, the servitors escorted Mahalaxmi to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple the place ‘Kauri Khela’ was performed atop the ‘Ratna Singhasan’. Conventional cash referred to as ‘Kauri’ (small conch cells) had been used within the sport.

The sport is performed by servitors on behalf of Lord Jagannath and Mahalaxmi. As per custom, Lord Jagannath concedes defeat within the ultimate sport following which he’s imprisoned by Mahalaxmi’s servitors within the Mahalaxmi temple on Srimandir premises for every week.

Gambling on the day is taken into account auspicious and locals indulge within the observe until late within the evening. Kumar Purnima is devoted to single women who put on new garments on the event. In the night, the women supply ‘Chanda Chakata’, a sweetmeat made from cheese, lia and khai moreover flowers to the moon.

Meanwhile, with easing of restrictions, the influx of vacationers to the holy city has elevated in the previous couple of days. Hotel rooms are being rented on premium tariff. The season has energised these engaged within the hospitality business, stated secretary of Hotel Association of Puri RK Patra.