Visakhapatnam, July 9, 2013: Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Sister Subhadra gave darshan to the devotees at Sri Jagannath temple of Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj on Monday with the performing of Netrotsav. Floral decoration of the deities marked the day. The deities will be decorated with ‘Tulasi’ leaves at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday on the occasion of ‘Tulasi vesam’ also known as Ubha Yatra.

Samaj president J.K. Nayak told The Hindu that after Debasnana Poornima on June 23, when the deities were offered a bath with perfumed water and adorned with Gajanana attire, they were given complete rest.

As per tradition, no darshan was allowed till Netrotsav to allow them to recover from fever. A large number of devotees thronged the temple on Monday. Bhajans and keertans were offered in the evening. Debasnana Poornima is also considered the birthday of Lord Jagannath.

On this occasion, the samaj launched the construction of Lord Siva’s temple. The annual rath yatra festival will start on July 10 with traditional ‘chhera panhra’ and pulling of the chariot for the annual sojourn of Lord Jagannath at His aunt’s place called Gundicha Ghar on the beach road (near Shantiasram).

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 9, 2013.