Jagannath Temple in Puri to remain open whole night on Dec 25

The Jagannath Temple in Puri will remain open the whole night on December 25 on account of the solar eclipse. This was decided at a meeting of the Chhattisa Nijog presided over by the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Krishan Kumar at the temple office.

As per tradition, the rituals will be stopped at 8.20 PM on December 25, 2019, that is 12 hours before the next day’s sunrise. The rituals would begin as usual at 8.20 AM on December 26, 2019, after the eclipse with the Maha Snana of the deities.

With no rituals to be conducted in the temple, it will remain open for darshan of the deities from December 25 (Wednesday) evening till December 26 (Thursday) morning. Puri Collector and Superintendent of Police will be supervising the arrangements for smooth darshan, said Kumar.

Secretary of Garabadu Nijog, Rajat Pratihari said since the solar eclipse will be on December 26, the temple will remain open the whole night on December 25 for the devotees.

Talking about the arrangement of the rituals in the temple for the solar eclipse, Pratihari said on December 26, partial eclipse (Khanda Grasa) will begin at 8:20:08 am and end at 11:29:10 am after which the rituals of the Lords will begin.

“Unlike other temples, where no rituals are performed during the eclipse period, special rituals of the Lords are performed in Jagannath Temple. The rituals will begin at 8:20:08 am with Grahana Mahasnana, Tadapalagi, Mailam, Mangala Alati, Abakasha, Rosa Homa, Surjya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Grahana Fekura Bhoga, Gopala Ballava, Pahili Bhoga, and Sakala Dhupa,” he added.

The SJTA chief administrator said the meeting discussed the arrangements for the devotees for the darshan of the Lords on New Year’s Day. “It was decided that the temple will be closed at 11 pm on December 31 and opened at 2 am,” he pointed out.

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