Adhara pana

 ADHARA PANA ~ ( This Festival Happened Yesterday in Sri Jagannath Puri Dham) 

Meaning of this Festival? 🤔

On the 11th day (Ekadasi), the three deities are offered a refreshing drink named as ‘Adhara Pana’. In local language ‘Adhara’ means ‘Lip’ and ‘Pana’ is a sweet scented drink made of milk, sugar, cheese, banana, camphor, nuts, black pepper etc. Apart from these ingredients, other herbal plant extracts like tulasi (holy basil) are also mixed into the drink. The deities are offered Adhara Pana on huge cylindrical earthen pots reaching up to their lips. The drink was filled in nine earthen pots and each of the deities was offered three pots each on their respective chariot. The Raghavadas Matha, Odia Matha and temple administration together contribute the pots and the drink for the occasion.

The priests offer the drink to the deities by performing "Sodosha Upachara Pooja". Once the Puja gets over the earthen pots are broken by the servitors and the Pana spreads all over the chariot. It is believed that several evil spirits, ghostly bodies and dissatisfied souls trail the deities during the Car Festival. As per the ritual, the Adhara Pana is not for the devotees and servitors but it is only for these evil spirits and the minor deities present on the three chariots (Parsva Devatas) to guard the chariots during Ratha Yatra. The smashing of these earthen pots on the chariots is purposefully done because the drink is not for the consumption by the devotees and also to ensure that all these invisible forces and Parsva Devatas consume the Adhara Pana and get satisfied.

Isen’t it such a Sweet yet Deep Festival.

Jai Jagannath 🙏🏻