The Jagannath temple is one of the holy Char Dham sites situated in Puri, Odisha. It is considered to be very auspicious to visit this temple. Apart from the main shrine within the complex, this religious site houses many minor temples. The Oriya architecture of this temple further enhances its allure. The four gates have been designed beautifully with intricate carvings. The Mahaprasad of the temple is something each one of you should definitely have. If you’re planning to visit the Jagannath temple, you should know about its opening and closing times and the best time to visit the shrine. In this guide, we will explore the ideal time for pilgrimage and the benefits of visiting the temple in different seasons.
Opening and Closing Time
For Darshan, the Jagannath Temple opens from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Additionally, after the Besha ritual, the doors of the temple are shut down from 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM for around 1 hour and 15 minutes. After the commencement of the Gopal Ballav Puja, pilgrims can visit the temple from 9:15 AM to 11:00 AM. For another session, the temple is open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. After this, the temple closes between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM for lunch. From 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM, the afternoon Darshan is available, and from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the evening session runs.
During festivals such as the Ratha Yatra, the doors of the temple open earlier and close later to accommodate a huge amount of crowd.
Best Time to Visit Jagannath Temple
Let’s take a look at the ideal time to visit Jagannath Temple.
- If you want to avoid crowds and have a serene experience, you should visit the temple before 9:00 AM early in the morning or around 8:00 PM in the late evening. During this time, the temple is not that crowded. The early hours offer a peaceful atmosphere for prayer and introspection.
- Ratha Yatra is considered to be the best time to visit Jagannath Temple. The chariot festival is celebrated annually. Devotees from different parts of the world gather to witness Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balabhadra’s procession on their sacred chariots. Book accommodations beforehand as the prices can be very high if you making the booking on the spot.
- Autumn and winter months are also considered to be the best time to visit the temple as the weather is pleasant and you can engage in outdoor activities without any hassle.
- Also read: Jagannath Temple Timings and Rituals
Aarti and Ritual Timings
Let’s take a look at the daily Aarti schedule and rituals that are held at Jagannath Temple.
- Mangala Aarti: This is the first Aarti that is conducted when the temple opens the door. The Mangala Aarti is conducted at around 5 am in the morning for around 30 minutes.
- Dwarapala Aarti: Dwarapala Aarti is performed at around 8 am for 15 minutes. This aarti ceremony is performed at the temple’s gate.
- Sahana Aarti: This Aarti ceremony is held at around 7 am in the morning for around 15 minutes. During this Aarti ceremony, a morning prayer is offered to Lord Jagannath.
- Rosha Aarti: This is the final Aarti that is held before the doors of the temple closes down. It is held at around 9 pm for around 30 minutes.
Rituals
- Mailam and Chandana Lagi– Once the evening Poojas are done, the priests anoint the deities with sandal paste. This ritual can be witnessed by devotees after paying a fee of INR 10.
- Beshalagi– The dresses of the deities are changed many times. At 8:00 AM, the deities are adorned with beautiful dresses and gold as per the festive occasions. This ritual is also called as ‘Bhitara Katha’.
- Bhoga Mandap and Mailam– After morning Pooja, the deities clothes are changed again by the priests which is known as Mailam. After this a Pooja is conducted in Bhoga Mandap. Huge quantities of Prasad or Bhog is prepared and offered to the devotees.
- Badasinghara Bhoga – This is the day’s last Bhog. Also, the priests perform a Pooja.
VIP Darshan and Special Darshan
VIP Darshan:
- Price: ₹500-₹1000 per person
- Time: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM
- Benefit: VIP Darshan offers a chance to the pilgrims to have a hassle-free Darshan of Lord Jagannath. You don’t need to stand in long lines making it ideal for those who have limited time on hand.Â
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How the rush will be in March 2week?how long we have to wait for darshan?
How is the rush in the temple in last week of September?
We, 11 persons(2Kids) coming darshan on April 15th Morning there.
We need one Authorised Guide from Temple office. What we do?
Please help us.
Harikumar. V