Gamha Purnima Celebrated at Puri Srimandir as Jagannath and Balabhadra Receive Giant Rakhis
Puri, Aug 28: The Jagannath Temple in Puri observed Gamha Purnima on Friday with traditional rituals, as Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra were adorned with specially prepared rakhis as part of the sacred celebration of sibling affection.
Gamha Purnima, also associated with Rakhi Purnima in Odisha, holds a special place in the state’s religious and cultural traditions. At Srimandir, the festival reflects the close bond between Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra.
According to temple tradition, Devi Subhadra ties rakhis to her brothers, symbolising affection, protection and the enduring bond between siblings.
The special rakhis are prepared by the Patara Bisoi servitors, who make four rakhis for the occasion. The rakhi associated with Lord Jagannath features red and yellow colours, while Lord Balabhadra’s is decorated in blue and violet shades.
Gamha Purnima is also closely connected with the worship of Lord Balabhadra, who is traditionally regarded as a protector of agriculture and rural life. The festival has therefore developed into an occasion that honours farming communities and their dependence on cattle and agricultural tools.
Across Odisha, farming families traditionally decorate their cattle, particularly their horns, with rakhis and offer them special food. Agricultural implements such as wooden ploughs are also worshipped as part of the celebrations.
The festival also has links with Odisha’s Paika warrior tradition. Historical and cultural traditions associate Gamha Purnima with the beginning of new forms of martial training, with warriors considering the occasion auspicious for developing strength, courage and skill.
At Srimandir, the occasion is marked by a series of elaborate rituals. The deities seated on the Ratnabedi are traditionally adorned with ornaments, while servitors and priests undertake various ceremonial preparations.
As part of the rituals, Lord Sudarshan is taken from the Ratnabedi in a ceremonial procession to Markandeya Pond. There, temple servitors prepare a clay representation of Lord Balabhadra. Following prescribed rituals and prayers, offerings are made before the clay image is immersed in the pond.
Lord Sudarshan then visits other traditional sites before returning to Srimandir later in the night, completing the day’s ceremonial observances.
Gamha Purnima thus brings together devotion, family bonds, agriculture and Odisha’s traditional cultural practices. The celebration at Puri Srimandir reflects the distinctive traditions of the Jagannath culture, where festivals continue to connect spiritual practices with everyday life.