By Sri Jagannath Mandir
Snana yatra is a special bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha which takes place on the day of the full moon during the Jyestha month, normally coinciding with the month of June. It commemorates the appearance day of Lord Jagannatha. It is recorded in the Skanda Purana that when King Indradyumna installed Lord Jagannatha, he commissioned this bathing ceremony. The Snana Yathra bathing ceremony was celebrated with great enthusiasm at ISKCON Malaysia ‘s headquarters, Sri Jagannatha Mandir, Taman Yarl, Kuala Lumpur on 13 June 2014 .
The abhisheka ceremony was performed with offerings of various items such as milk, honey, yogurt, fruit juice etc. Everyone was given an opportunity to perform abhisheka. The festival was blessed by the presence of H H Bhakti Vrajendra Nandana Maharaja, President of ISKCON Malaysia. A spiritual discourse was delivered by Maharaja.
As the Lord Himself instructed, after the ceremony, He is not seen for a fortnight. The deities are kept in a special room. Due to the amount of bathing liquids that were offered to cool the Lord’s transcendental body, it also has the effect of washing away the features of the earlier paint-work. During this period devotees repaint and restore the Deities’ fine decorations. On the 16th day the Deities rejuvenated in Their newly repainted forms become ready for public darshan. This festival of the first appearance in public of Lord Jagannatha, after 15 days in seclusion is Ratha Yatra.
Their Lordships were taken to the special room after mahaarati and offering of ghee lamps by each and every one.
Festival ended with kirtan led by His Grace Kripa Sindhu Krishna Prabhu.
