Snana Purnima, also known as Deba Snana Purnima, is a bathing festival of deities celebrated on the purnima (full moon day) of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. It is the auspicious birthday of Jagannath.
It is an important festival for Hindus. This is the first occasion in the year as per the Hindu calendar, when the deities lord Jagannath, lord Balabhadra, lord Subhadra, Sudarshana, and Madanmohana are brought out from the Jagannath Temple and taken in a royal procession to the Snana Bedi. The procession is called Pahandi. There they are ceremonially bathed and decorated for a public audience with the devotees.
The bathing ceremony is performed by priests who use 108 pitchers of water from the holly well. The well is located inside the temple complex and known as the Suna Kua, or the Golden Well. The water is mixed with herbs and flowers, and the deities are bathed with great care and reverence. After the bathing ceremony, the deities are dressed in new clothes and are offered a feast of fruits, sweets, and other delicacies. On the evening of Deba Snana Purnima, the deities are dressed in the Hathi Besha. This is a special costume that makes them look like elephants. It is said that many centuries ago, a scholar named Ganpati Bhatta visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha, and he was disappointed to see that the deities in the temple were not Ganesha. He left the temple in a dejected mood.
Later that night, Lord Jagannath appeared to Ganpati Bhatta in a dream. He told Ganpati Bhatta that he understood his disappointment, and he had a special surprise for him. The next day, on the day of Snana Purnima, Ganpati Bhatta returned to the temple. He was amazed to see that the deities had been dressed up in elephant costumes.
Ganpati Bhatta was overjoyed. He realized that Lord Jagannath had taken on the form of Ganesha in order to please him. He fell to his knees and worshiped the deities.
The tradition of Hati Besha is said to have originated from this story. It is a way for devotees to show their love and devotion to Lord Ganesha. It is also a reminder that all gods are ultimately one, and that there is no need to be divided by sectarian differences.
Hati Besha is a joyous occasion, and it is a time for everyone to come together and celebrate their faith. It is a reminder that we are all part of one big family, and that we should all live in peace and harmony.
The Hathi Besha is a symbol of strength and power, and it is a reminder that the deities are always there to protect their devotees.
The Snana Purnima festival is a time of great joy and celebration for the people of Odisha. It is a time to come together and celebrate the birth of Jagannath, and to seek his blessings for the year ahead.
