Debasnana Purnima celebrated in Australia

Rourkela: Hundreds of devotees of Lord Jagannath gathered at Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre (HTCC) in Canberra, Australia, on Monday to celebrate the sacred Debasnana Purnima, one of the most significant festivals associated with the deity and His siblings Lord Balaram and Devi Subhadra.

The celebrations were led by the Odia community in Canberra.The event began with the traditional ‘Pahandi’, during which the ‘Chaturdha Murti’ of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshana were ceremoniously brought out for the sacred bathing rituals. This was followed by the recitation of the ‘Satyanarayana Katha’ and the collective chanting of the ‘Vishnu Sahasranamam’, as the rituals were performed.Members of the Odia community described the atmosphere as “truly divine” and spiritually uplifting. Temple committee members and volunteers served Mahaprabhu with devotion, ensuring the smooth conduct of the rituals and associated activities.The programme concluded with the distribution of ‘Mahaprasad’ (edible offerings to the Lord).“The Snana Yatra celebrations in Canberra reflect the growing devotion to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Australia while preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage for future generations," said Tarun Agasti, a local resident and founder-director of Shree Jagannatha Consciousness ANZ (Australia and New Zealand).