Puri, June 11 -- The sacred bathing ritual of Lord Jagannath along with his sibling - Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadhra - was held on the occasion Snana Purnima in Puri on Wednesday.

The three deities were ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water. This ritual marks a significant lead-up to the grand Rath Yatra.

It is believed that following this sacred bath, the deities fall mildly ill and are kept in seclusion in the Anasara Ghar (a special isolation chamber) for a period of two weeks.

Additionally, Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture of Lord Jagannath along with Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadhra on the occasion of Snana Purnima. He also installed 108 Kalash representing the bathing ritual on this occ...