PURI: The deities were today offered Adhar Pana, a rich drink prepared with sweetmeats and fruit juice, on their chariots. The Lords then dedicated pitchers of the Pana for the ‘moksha’ of ghostly bodies.
Sources said it is believed that ghostly bodies move along the chariots to get Pana along with blessings of the Lords to get ‘moksha’. And the Lords oblige them by allowing them to take the holy drink.
As per the ritual, nine large pitchers were filled with the drink and placed before the three deities on their chariots. The priests performed ‘Sodosha Upachar’ puja during offering of the drink.
The deities would enter the Shri Jagannath temple tomorrow night in a ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ procession to be conducted by the servitors. Before that, the deities would be offered ‘rasagulla’ bhog. The concluding day of the Rath Yatra is called Neeladri Bije.