Deva Snana Purnima, also called ‘Snana Yatra’, is an important bathing festival for fans of Lord Jagannath. It happens on the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month in the Hindu calendar. According to the Skanda Purana, this event celebrates the appearance of Lord Jagannath and is very significant for Vaishnavas.

On this day in Puri, there is a tradition of bathing Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra. They are bathed with 108 pitchers of water, after which the deities do not show themselves to the devotees for the next 14 days. The temple doors reopen on the first day of the Shukla Paksha in Ashadha month. 

The day before Snana Yatra, the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, along with Sudarshana, are taken out in a procession to the bathing area. Visitors outside the temple can see the deities during this time. The procession before the bathing is called Pahandi or Pahandi Vijay. Some people even celebrate this festival as Lord Jagannath's birthday. Many devotees from across the country come to see this special event.

Important Times for Deva Snana Purnima 2025

• Sunrise: June 11, 5:44 AM
• Sunset: June 11, 7:08 PM
• Purnima Tithi Timing: June 10, 11:36 AM - June 11, 1:13 PM

Rituals during Deva Snana Purnima:

On Jyeshtha Purnima, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra are taken out from their place in the Jagannath Puri Temple early in the morning. Thousands of devotees watch as they are brought to the bathing altar, called the ‘Snana Bedi’. This procession, known as ‘Pahandi’, is lively with chanting, bells, drums, and other instruments.

The water for bathing comes from a well inside the Jagannath Temple. Before the bathing, priests perform some rituals. They use 108 pitchers of herbal and fragrant water to bathe the three main deities. After the bathing, the deities are dressed in ‘Sada Besha’. In the afternoon, they are dressed again as ‘Hathi Besha’, resembling Lord Ganesha.

A special food offering is prepared for the day of Deva Snana Purnima. Later in the evening, the deities come out for ‘Sahanamela’ so the public can see them.

At night, the three main deities go to the ‘Anasar’ House in the temple complex. During the ‘Anasara’ period, devotees cannot see their idols. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra will only be shown again 15 days later, just before the famous Rath Yatra.