Jagannath Yatra 2025: How A Bitter Kadha Heals The Lord During The 15 Days Anavasara After Snana Yatra

In the sacred town of Puri, where yatra means more than a pot of devotion, an unusual yet deep tradition is highlighted each year. As preparations for the grand Rath Yatra begin, the beloved deities Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra are believed to fall ill after the ceremonial bath on Jyeshtha Purnima, the full moon of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. For a fortnight, the gods vanish from public view in isolation.

During peak summer, after being bathed with various cooling liquids, the painted bodies of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are believed to fade, leading to a period of seclusion known as Anavasara. The deities are said to fall ill and are kept in a private chamber under the care of the royal physician, or Raja Vaidya. During this time, they are offered only fruits, water mixed with cheese, and a special herbal medicine called dasa-mula, made from tulsi, pepper, cardamom, sandalwood, rose, and Ganges water. Devotees receive a bitter kadha as prasad, known for its healing and disease-preventing properties.

To take care of the health of the deities, a healing yet bitter kadha is prepared using a mix of herbs and spices packed with the blend of cardamom, tulsi leaves and black pepper, which is later combined with rose petals, ganga jal and sandalwood. This portion, renowned for its antifever and a form of sacred medicine which is also served to the devotees as prasad. As the priests feed deities with this concoction, devotees are offered the kadha as prasad, believing in its power to restore health.

The faith in this kadha goes beyond the ritual. Legends have it that the miracles and recoveries think of this kadha as a sacred prasad. A testimonial famous in the region is that miracles and recoveries have happened after a student consumed the decoction when doctors lost hope. These stories have not only strengthened belief but also drawn crowds in large numbers. The kadha is distributed as a form of prasad with the hope that it will heal lifelong ailments.

Parwal juice for the deities

As the healing phase comes to an end after 15 days of isolation, the deities are reintroduced to the public on the day of Aashad Amavasya with an offering of parwal juice. This offering marks the end of their isolation, and devotees can once again witness and worship the deities. The juice is also served as prasad to the devotees, which also symbolises renewal.

Legends believe that a special bhog of puri, sweets and sabzi is also offered on this day, which also transforms the atmosphere of the temple into a joyous place completely.

In a time when immunity and wellness is one of the important things to keep in mind. As the tradition of serving and consuming kadha stays constant with the thought of healing, faith and Ayurvedic wisdom. This reminds us of something simple ‘Healing takes time’ even for gods. The strength and good health are restored in deities after being taken care of for about 2 weeks with love and a bitter kadha, which is still a powerful belief.