People in Puri have gathered to witness Lord Jagannath`s ceremonial bathing rituals, held in an open pandal on the premises of the 12th-century temple.

On the occasion, three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – were brought to the `Snana Mandap` (bathing altar) with ceremonial `pahandi` (procession).

The deities are bathed on the `Snana Mandap` (bathing altar), the elevated pedestal facing the Grand Road where devotees get the opportunity to witness the bathing rituals.

Accompanied by Puri MP Sambit Patra, the chief minister entered the temple through the `Uttara Dwara` (northern gate) and witnessed the morning prayers and the ceremonial procession of the deities.

The festival, known as Deva Snana Purnima, takes place on the full moon day in the month of Jyestha, and this is the first occasion in a year when the wooden idols are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum in a procession and placed on the `Snana Mandap` for the bathing rituals.

Amid chanting of Vedic mantras, altogether 108 pitchers of `sacred water` from the `Sunakua` (golden well), located on the temple premises, were poured on the idols around 12.20 pm on Wednesday.

The deities will be taken to the 12th-century shrine and remain in `Anasara Ghar` (isolation room) for 14 days as they fall ill after having the bath according to Hindu mythology. The temple `Baidya` (physician) would treat them with herbal medicines, and the public `darshan` of the deities will remain closed till `Nabajouban darshan` till June 26.