DOLA UTSAV BEGINS AT PURI SRIMANDIR
Puri(19/03/2024): The six-day long Dola Utsav began at the Srimandir in Puri on Tuesday. Phagu Dashami, celebrated on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna (Phalguna Shukla Dasami), marks the beginning of the six-day long Dola Purnima festival at Srimandir. It is observed six days before the Purnima (full moon day) in Phalgun month, as per traditional Odia calendar. Dola Purnima, also known as Dola Yatra, is observed for more than 10 days. The festival celebrates the eternal love of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha.
From Phagu Dashami to Dola Purnima, the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are placed in a swing and worshipped.
The six-day festival is held at homes, temples and by spiritual organizations across Odisha. After completion of special rituals, the sibling deities will be attired in ‘Chacheri Besha’.
They will be offered ‘Chachari Bhog’ till the next chaturdashi.
A variety of ornaments will adorn the deities. After getting the ‘Agyanmala’, the moving idols of Dolagobinda representing Lord Jagannath along with Devi Lakshmi and Devi Saraswati will be taken in a procession to an alter called Dola Vedi at Shri Jagannath Ballav mutt. Finally, Dola Purnima rituals will be performed in the Temple on March 25 when the sibling deities will be decorated with golden attire.
On Dola Purnima, lakhs of devotees are expected to throng the shrine to offer obeisance to the deities.
