Special Ayurvedic preparation offered to Lord Jagannath during the annual period of seclusion as centuries-old ritual continues in Rajnandgaon
Published on: July 03, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The centuries-old Anasara tradition associated with Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra is being observed with religious fervour, Vedic rituals and traditional customs at the historic Shri Jagannath Temple in Gandhi Chowk, Rajnandgaon.
According to religious tradition, following Dev Snana Purnima, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are believed to fall ill and remain in Anasara—a period of seclusion lasting approximately 15 days. During this time, devotees are not allowed to have darshan of the deities, and a special Ayurvedic herbal decoction (kadha) prepared from medicinal herbs is offered as bhog. The ritual is observed at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri as well as Jagannath temples across the country.
As part of this long-standing tradition, Giridhari Sharma, a sevayat of the Gandhi Chowk Shri Jagannath Temple, along with advocate Mahesh Sharma and the temple priest, visited the Baba Ramdev Temple in Rajnandgaon.
At the temple, they ceremonially received the traditional herbal decoction from temple priests Sharad Tanwar and Komal Tanwar. The special preparation is made by boiling a variety of medicinal herbs in water using a traditional Ayurvedic method before it is offered to the deities during the Anasara period.
According to the temple authorities, this unique religious practice has been observed continuously in Rajnandgaon for nearly 60 years, preserving an important aspect of Jagannath worship.
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Mahesh Sharma said that the historic Shri Jagannath Temple at Gandhi Chowk has been organising the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath for nearly 70 to 80 years. During the Anasara period, the sacred herbal decoction forms an integral part of the offerings made to the deities.
He added that the people of Rajnandgaon have consistently supported and preserved this religious tradition with devotion. According to him, the decades-old practice represents a living confluence of religious faith, Ayurvedic heritage and the city’s rich cultural traditions, continuing to inspire generations of devotees.
