Gundica Cleanup and Snana-Yatra this Sunday!

A sure sign that the annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) is just around the corner are the annual Gundica Cleanup and Snana-Yatra festivals! This Sunday, we will be celebrating Gundica Cleanup (Temple cleanup) and Snana-Yatra (Bathing festival).

Every year, before the Ratha-Yatra festival, the temple is lovingly cleaned by the devotees. This is following the example set by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who held the first Gundica Cleanup some 500 years ago. The famous Ratha-Yatra parade in Jagannatha Puri begins at the Jagannatha Puri temple and proceeds all the way till the Gundica Temple. Preparing for the arrival of Lord Jagannatha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu with His associates personally cleaned the entire temple.

The clean-up will start at 9:30am in the temple room and will continue till 3:30pm. Special Lunch (prasadam) will be provided for those who come out to help clean!

After immersing yourself in cleaning the temple, join us celebrate Snana-Yatra, a wonderful festival, wherein Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra will be bathed amidst amazing kirtan and chanting!

After the bathing ceremony (Snana-Yatra), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private quarters, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period the body of the Jagannātha Deity is repainted, this is called nava-yauvana.

During the Ratha-Yatra Festival on July 17, Lord Jagannātha will once again come before the public. Thus for thirteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors!

A warm invitation goes out to you and your family to join in the wonderful celebrations of Gundica Cleanup and Snana-Yatra festivals this upcoming Sunday!

Don’t miss out this last opportunity to see Lord Jagannatha before his grand Ratha-Yatra festival!