The sacred Pahili Bhoga ritual was performed with traditional grandeur at the Puri Srimandir on Tuesday, marking the commencement of Dhanu Sankranti, an auspicious occasion in the Odia Hindu calendar. The ritual signifies the beginning of the holy Dhanu month, which holds immense religious importance for devotees of Lord Jagannath.
As per long-standing temple traditions, the Dwara Phita ritual, which involves the ceremonial opening of the temple doors, was conducted at 2 am. Following this, between 5:30 am and 6 am, the first offering of the day — Pahili Bhoga — was presented to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The temple authorities confirmed that the Pahuda (closing of the temple doors for the night) ritual will be observed at 11 pm.
Temple officials explained that Pahili Bhoga is offered in the early morning hours throughout the Dhanu month, from Dhanu Sankranti until January 13, in keeping with age-old customs. This early offering is considered especially sacred, as it is believed that during this period, Goddess Lakshmi resides at her parental home, and Mother Yashoda lovingly prepares special offerings for Mahaprabhu.
As part of the tradition, a variety of special delicacies are offered, including pitha made from lentils and wheat flour, sweetened with ghee and jaggery, along with the traditional Dhanu Muan, which is unique to this festive period. These offerings symbolise maternal affection and devotion and are an integral part of the Dhanu month rituals.
The temple is also preparing for several significant ceremonies in the coming days. On January 3, the Debabhisheka ritual will be performed, accompanied by the rare and much-awaited Suna Besha, during which the Holy Trinity will be adorned with gold ornaments. This occasion is expected to draw a massive influx of devotees from across Odisha and beyond.
From the early hours of the morning, devotees thronged the Puri Srimandir to witness the special rituals and seek divine blessings. The temple premises resonated with chants and devotional fervor, marking a spiritually charged beginning to the Dhanu month, which is regarded as one of the most sacred periods in the Jagannath culture.
