PURI: A day after the Trinity adorned the gold attire, ‘Adhar Pana’, a rich drink, was offered to them by the priests on Tuesday.
Early this morning, daily ‘nitis’ of the deities were performed and they adorned new clothes for ‘Sahana Mela’. Nine large barrel-shaped pitchers, each measuring one metre in height, filled with the drink, were placed before the three deities on the chariots (three on each chariot).
The priests recited ‘Sodasa Upachar’ and offered the drinks to the deities. Soon after the offering, the earthen pitchers were smashed on the chariots spilling the drink on the floor.
It is believed that ghosts trail the Lords during Rath Yatra waiting to consume the holy drink to get ‘moksha’. As per the tradition, ‘Adhar Pana’ is prepared in Raghabdas Mutt with nine ingredients, cheese and cream.
The deities would remain on the chariots till Wednesday night when they would be escorted into the sanctum sanctorum in ceremonial ‘Pahandi’.
Temple chief administrator P K Mahapatra and District Magistrate Arabind Agarwal were present. No untoward incident was reported.