Bhubaneswar, June 29 -- Marking the beginning of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra, the Snana Purnima rituals started in Puri Srimandir amidst tight security on Monday. Held on the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha, Snana Purnima carries lots of significance for Odias.

The Sibling deities, once placed on the Snana Mandap, are bathed with 108 pitchers of sacred water. After the holy bath, deities are decked up in Gajanana Besha. The Snana Yatra culminates after the Lords are taken to the 'Anasara Ghara' on Pahandi.

Soon after the ceremonial bath, the deities fall sick and go into 15-day quarantine. After a full fortnight of rest, they reappear to the public (Netrotsav) a day before Srigundich...