Puri, June 25 (UDN): The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will temporarily suspend public darshan for five hours on Thursday to facilitate the sacred ‘Rukmini Haran’ and Bibaha Utsav rituals, temple authorities have announced.
According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, devotees will not be allowed entry for darshan from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, following the completion of the first Bhog Mandap offering. The temporary restriction has been put in place to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted conduct of the traditional ceremonies.
The administration confirmed through its official X handle that the rituals will be observed on June 25, 2026, on the occasion of Jyestha Shukla Ekadashi. During this period, devotees will not be able to have darshan of the sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The ‘Rukmini Haran’ ritual is an important part of the temple’s annual tradition and is performed as part of the divine wedding festivities of Lord Jagannath. The ceremony is rooted in mythology, which narrates the story of Princess Rukmini’s devotion to Lord Krishna and the symbolic enactment of her divine union.
As per tradition, Lord Jagannath is adorned with the Baula Pata, and his representative, Madanmohan, symbolically carries out the ritual of Rukmini Haran. The event reenacts the legendary episode involving Rukmini’s abduction, Shishupala’s pursuit, and the divine victory that follows, culminating in preparations for the celestial wedding at the Vivaha Mandap within the temple.
Temple officials stated that the temporary suspension of darshan is necessary to maintain sanctity and ensure the smooth conduct of rituals in accordance with age-old customs. Adequate arrangements have been made to manage devotees and resume normal darshan after the conclusion of the ceremonies.
Normal public darshan is expected to resume after 6:00 PM.
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