Bhubaneswar, June 29 -- Following the grand ceremonial bath on Debasnana Purnima, the Sibling Deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath, will enter their annual 15-day period of strict seclusion, known as Anabasara or colloquially Anasara period. This period is believed to be the recovery time for the Deities from an induced fever.

During this fortnight, the deities will be kept in a hidden chamber called the Anabasara Ghara, completely out of bounds to the public. In their absence, devotees will pray to the Anasara Pata paintings, humanised depictions of the triad.

Meanwhile, a series of secret, centuries-old healing rituals are performed to restore the health of Lord Jagannath and his Siblings.

The secret chamber wi...