Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reached the house of sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik in Puri on Dev Snan Purnima. He congratulated Patnaik on winning the Russian Grand Sand Master Cup and discussed promoting art-culture in the state.
CM Majhi met Sudarshan Patnaik
Puri (Odisha) [भारत]June 29 (ANI): Renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik on Monday said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited his residence in Puri on the occasion of Dev Snan Purnima, where the two also discussed promoting art and culture of the state.
Patnaik said the Chief Minister had gone to his residence to seek blessings of Lord Jagannath before coming to his residence, where he congratulated him on becoming the first Indian to win the Russian Grand Sand Master Cup.
Patnaik told ANI, “Today is Devasnan Purnima, a holy day for Lord Jagannath. Devotees from across the country and abroad come to Puri on this occasion… It was a matter of good fortune for me that by the grace of God, CM Mohan Charan Majhi came to seek the blessings of God on this holy day. After this, he came to my house.”
He said the Chief Minister had earlier assured him that he would personally visit his residence after his return from Russia. Patnaik said, “When I returned from Russia after becoming the first Indian to win the Russian Grand Sand Master Cup, the CM had said that he would personally come to my house to congratulate me on this great achievement for the country… He looked at the cups and medals I have won as well as all the other awards I have received over the years and was very encouraging. He also interacted with my family.”
According to Patnaik, the Chief Minister also discussed ways to further promote the art and culture of Odisha.
What is Dev Snan Purnima?
Dev Snan: On the full moon day, brothers, sisters and gods and goddesses are bathed with 108 pitchers of holy water. After this ritual, the deity is believed to fall ill and remains away from public darshan during the period of ‘Ansar’ before reappearing for the annual Rath Yatra.
Thousands of worshipers gathered to witness the sacred bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, symbolizing the age-old tradition.
This festival marks the bathing of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra with 108 pitchers of water in a sacred ritual. Devotees came from all over the country to be a part of this event.
Snana Yatra is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month Jyeshtha, which usually falls in June. This festival has immense religious significance, as it is considered to be the birthday of Lord Jagannath.
The deities are taken out in a grand procession from the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath temple to the Snan Mandap, an elevated platform where the bathing ritual takes place. Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, are brought from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snan Mandap, a special bathing platform. On this day, the deities are given a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of holy water. (ANI)
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