Puja & Maha Prasadhams of Puri Jagannath Temple

Darshan:-
During Sahanamela, the devotees can go up to the "Ratna Simhasana" and pray to Lords, free of cost. Besides the pilgrims can go up to "Ratna Singhasana" at certain times paying a nominal fee Rs. 10/-, which is known as "Parimanik Darshana". At other times the pilgrims can have their darshan from a little distance that is in "Jagamohan" and "Vitarakatha". At the time of Beshalagi, one can have darshan near "Bhitar Katha" .

Bhoga:-
Every day 5 bhogas are offered to the Lords, these are "Gopala-Ballava" (Break fast), "Sakal Dhupa" "Madhyana Dhupa" "Sandhya Dhupa" and "Badasinghar Dhupa.
Puja Timing in Jagannath Temple
Daily Rituals:

1.Dwarpitha and Mangal Aarati at 5 a.m:-
The door opens early in the morning in the presence of five specific sevayats after verification of the "seal" given by a particular sevayat in the last night. Soon after the opening of the door, Mangal Aarati is performed.

2."Mailam" at 6 a.m:-
"Mailam" is a word used in Sri Jagannath Temple, which means change or removal of dresses and flowers etc. At this time some specific sevaks change the clothes, flowers, Tulasi leaves of the deities worn on the previous night. After removal of clothes, the clothes known as "Tadap" and "Uttariya" are worn by the deities.

3. "Abakash" - 6 a.m. to 6.30 a.m:-
Purificatory rites like brushing of teeth and bath is known as "Abakash". At this time, Temple Jyotishi (Astrologer) reads out the tithi(day and date) and other astrological details of the day and according to that, that day's rituals are performed.

4. "Mailam" 6.45 a.m:-
At this time deities change their clothes (Tadap and Uttariya) and wear another set of clothes. A sevak known as "Akhanda Mekap" keeps in the sanctum Akhanda Baitha i.e. one lamp which burns till "Pahuda" or the time of the retirement of the deities to bed.
to bed.

5. "Sahanamela" - 7 a.m. to 8 a.m:-
Though this is not a part of the rituals, but about one hour is spent to facilitate pilgrims to go up to "Ratnavedi" or inner sanctums to have a Darshan, without paying fees for it. On certain festive days, Sahanamela is held after "Sandhya dhupa" (Evening Puja or Sandhya Aarati in the month of Kartik) and after Sakaldhupa (in the month of Pausha). Some times this darshan is not allowed for some special rituals of the deities.

6. "Beshalagi" - 8 a.m:-
After Sahanamela the deities are again dressed up which can be witnessed from a little distance i.e." Bhitara Katha". At this time, Deities are also adorned with gold and precious stones to suit different festive occasions.

7. Rosha Homa Surya Puja and Dwarapal- 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m:-
While some sevayats are busy with vesha lagi or the Deities, Pujapandas at that time perform "Rosha Homa" (Fire Sacrifice) at the kitchen and "Surya puja" at the surya temple near "Mukti Mandap". Then the images of two gate keepers named Jaya and Vijaya on the entrance of the Jagamohan of the Temple are worshipped.

8. Gopala Ballava Puja- 9 a.m:-
The prescribed time is 9 A.M. This is the time for breakfast of the deities. At this time sweet popcorn (Khai), Khualadus, Coconut sweets (Kora), Ripe banana, Curd, and chipped coconuts etc. are offered as bhogas. Puja is performed in a brief manner with pancha upachar only.

9. Sakala Dhupa(Morning food offering) 10 a.m:-
At this time puja is performed by three Pujapandas with 16 Upachars or Sodasha Upachars. Three Pujapandas used to sit on Ratnasinhasana to worship three deities Shri Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. The Pujapanda who worships Lord Jagannath also worships Sri Devi, Bhudevi, and Sudarshan. The morning bhoga or food offered to the deities contains Rice, Kanika, Khechudi, Green leaves, Cakes etc. The local names of the Bhog are Pitha Puli, Hansakeli, Kanti, Enduri, Matha Puli, Kakatua Jhili, Bundia, Kadali Bhaja, Ada Pachedi (ginger tonic) etc.The cost of the dhoop Pujas and Ballavs are borne by the Temple Administration. Previously Raja-Superintendent of the temple born the cost of materials for preparation of Bhoga. So these Bhogas are also called "Raja Bhoga" or "Kotha Bhoga".

10. Mailam and Bhoga Mandap:-
After Morning Dhupa or Puja the Deities change their clothes and again Puja takes places in "Bhoga Mandap", a place behind the Garuda pillar of Jagamohan. Huge quantity of Bhogas such as Rice, Dal, Curries, Saga and Cakes of different kinds etc. are offered to the Deities. Pujapandas worship this bhog with Pancha Upacharas. The cost of Bhoga Mandap offerings are not borne by the state or Temple Administration. This bhoga is mainly prepared to meet the need of different Mathas(Monasteries) and for sale to the general public. According to the demand, Bhogamandap Puja is made twice or thrice a day i.e. after "Madhyanha Dhoop" and "Sandhya Dhup" also.

11. Madhyanha (Afternoon food offering) 11 A.M. to 1 P.M:-
Like Sakal Dhupa, this puja is also performed with Shodasha Upachar in the afternoon. The Bhoga items are more in number than that of Morning Dhupa. One can go near to the "Ratna Simhasan" for darshan by paying special Darshan fee of Rs. 10/- after Madhyanha Dhupa and Sakal Dhupa.

12. Madhyanha Pahudha - 1 p.m. to 1.30 p.m:-
If rituals have been performed in time and if time permits, the Deities retire for the afternoon.

13. Sandhya Aarati:-
In the evening again aaratis are performed after Madhyana Dhupa Mailam. On Ekadashi day, the deities change their clothes and wear another set after "Aarati" is over.

14.Sandhya Dhupa - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m:-
After "Sandhya Aarati" again Bhogas are offered to the deities in the same manner like Sakala and Madhyanha Dhupa but this time Bhoga amount is less in quantity and number. After Puja again lamp offering is made which is called as "Jaya Mangala Aarati".

15.Mailam and Chandana lagi:-
After "Sandhya Dhoopa" deities change their clothes and are annointed with Sandal paste mixed with champhor, keshar and Kasturi.

16. Badashringar Vesha:-
After Chandan lagi, deities are dressed with Baralagi Patta (silken robes on which some portions of Geeta Govinda of Jayadev are woven in to the texture of these robes) and flower ornaments.

17. Badashringara Bhoga:-
This is the last bhoga of the day. Puja is offered with Pancha Upachar by the Puja Pandas with Pakhal (watered rice), Kadali bada, Kshiri, Kanji etc.

18. Khata Seja Lagi and Pahuda 12.00:-
The bedsteads of the deities are arranged. The Deity of "Sayan Thakura" is carried from Bhandarghar to Ratnavedi or Ratnasimhasana and place the deity near Lord Jagannath. Then follows offering of green coconut, betels and camphor aarati and then deities retire to their beds. The door is sealed then by the Sevayat (Talichha Mohapatra). Temple is closed and no visitors or outsiders are allowed to remain inside..

Khata Seja Lagi and Pahuda 12.00:-
The bedsteads of the deities are arranged. The Deity of "Sayan Thakura" is carried from Bhandarghar to Ratnavedi or Ratnasimhasana and place the deity near Lord Jagannath. Then follows offering of green coconut, betels and camphor aarati and then deities retire to their beds. The door is sealed then by the Sevayat (Talichha Mohapatra). Temple is closed and no visitors or outsiders are allowed to remain inside.

Temple kitchen and Maha Prasad :-

The kitchen of the Jagannath temple being the biggest in the world needs special mention. It is located at the south-east direction of the outer compound of the temple. The length of the kitchen is around 150 feet, breadth is 100 feet and the height is about 20 feet. This mammoth kitchen consists of 32 rooms with 250 earthen ovens. Every day hundreds of cooks prepare food in this temple kitchen, often at short notice for thousands of devotees.

Mahaprasad or Naivedhya offered to Lord Jagannath and his siblings at Rathnavedhi is prepared and supplied by this temple kitchen. Every day, the offerings, (consisting of 56 varieties of dishes), are made six times starting from morning breakfast to late night meal which ends at 11 in the night. Later this is distributed amongst devotees at Ratnavedi and at Bhog mandap. These daily offerings of Prasad are carried on elaborately.

There is an interesting reason for giving so much of importance to these daily offerings and the maintenance of the kitchen. It is believed that Lord Vishnu conducts each of his daily activities at each of the Char Dhams (four holy places). He takes his bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, dines at Puri and retires at Dwarika. Hence, a lot of significance is given to "Mahaprasad" at Puri.

It is also believed that Goddess MahaLakshmi personally supervises the proceedings of the kitchen and even today, if she becomes displeased with any of the preparations, the shadow of the dog appears in the corner of the kitchen. In such a case the whole of the food is thrown away and the food is prepared all over again. It is said that when the delicacies are being carried from the kitchen to the sanctum sanctorum, one cannot smell the aroma of the food, whereas once it is offered to the God and becomes mahaprasad, the entire temple premises are rich with aromatic flavors.

Daily offerings are made to the Lord six times a day. These include:

1. The offering to the Lord in the Morning that forms His breakfast and is called The Gopala Vallabha Bhoga. Breakfast is a seven item treat - Khua, Lahuni, sweetened coconut grating, coconut water, and popcorn sweetened with sugar known as khai and curd and ripe bananas.
2. The Sakala Dhupa forms his next offering at about 10 O’ clock in the morning Sakala Dhupa. This generally consists of 13 items including the Enduri cake & Mantha puli.
3. Bada Sankhudi Bhoga forms the next repast & the offering consists of Pakhala with dahi and Kanji payas. The offerings are made in the bhog mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratna Vedi. This is called Chatra Bhog and was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food.
4. The Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering at the noon.
5. The next offering to the Lord is made in the evening at around 8 o’clock it is Sandhya Dhupa.
6. The last offering to the Lord is called the Bada Simhara Bhoga.

The Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath are distributed amongst the devotees near the Ratnavedi inside the frame of Phokaria, which is being drawn by the Puja pandas using Muruj, except for the Gopal Ballav Bhog and Bhog Mandap Bhoga which are distributed in the Anabsar Pindi & Bhoga Mandap respectively.