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Puri: The ‘Adhara Pana’ ritual will be held on the chariots in front of the Singhadwara of Srimandir today, a day after the completion of the Suna Besha ritual of the holy trinity on Sunday.
On the 11th day, the Adhara Pana ritual, which literally translates as Adhara – Lip and Pana – Juice, is performed (Ekadasi). The three deities are served a cool drink called ‘Adhara Pana.’
Adhara Pana is a sweet-scented drink made of milk, sugar, cheese, banana, camphor, nuts, black pepper, and other ingredients. Aside from these ingredients, the drink also contains herbal plant extracts such as tulasi (holy basil). Adhara Pana is offered to the deities in large cylindrical earthen pots.
The drink is poured into nine earthen pots, one for each of the deities was offered three pots each on their respective chariot.
The priests perform ‘Sodosha Upachara Pooja’ to offer the drink to the deities.
The earthen pots are broken by the servants after the Puja, and the Pana spreads all over the chariot. Several evil spirits, ghostly bodies, and dissatisfied souls are said to follow the deities during the Car Festival.
According to the ritual, the Adhara Pana is only for Parsva Devatas to guard the chariots during Ratha Yatra, not for devotees and servitors.
Following that, the pots are purposefully smashed on the chariots because the drink is not for the consumption of devotees and also to ensure that all of these invisible forces and Parsva Devatas consume the Adhara Pana and are satisfied.
The Ratha Yatra will come to an end tomorrow. The deities return to their seats, Ratna Singhasana in a ritual known as Niladri Bije.
