Puri:
Marking an end to the dispute between the Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri seer Swami Nischalananda Saraswati today paid darshan of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra at the ‘Snan mandap’ (bathing alter).
Saraswati, accompanied by his disciples, visited the 12th century shrine and paid darshan of the deities where Daitapati priests welcomed him.
The seer, who refused to visit the chariots last year due to a dispute with the SJTA, today blessed the devotees by raising his hands standing on the bathing altar.
Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Divyasingha Deb also paid darshan of the trinity as per the tradition and performed puja at the bathing alter, while lakhs of devotees thronged the sea side town to have the last glimpse of Lord Jagannath before the deities were taken for 45 days to the ‘anasar ghar’ (secret chamber).
The deities of Puri adorn the Gajanan Vesha (elephant attire) at the bathing altar and was the last bathing festival of the deities as new idols would come during the Rath Yatra festival.
The ceremonial bathing festival was observed with priests pouring 108 pots of water on the idols. The water was fetched from the golden well located within the temple premises.
