Lord Jagannath’s Anasara Nothing but Quarantine: Subroto Bagchi

Bhubaneswar: As Odisha is determinedly fighting against Coronavirus to prevent its transmission, the State Government’s Chief Spokesperson on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi has once again emphasized on the self-quarantine or isolation to stop the spread of the viral disease.

Addressing a presser here, Bagchi has narrated the Lord Jagannath‘s Anasara ritual to highlight the significance of self-quarantine to fight against the COVID-19, which is spreading its tentacles across the globe.

“Lord Jagannath’s Anasara is nothing but quarantine”, he said.

During the bathing festival known as Deva Snana Purnima, the Lord Jagannath and his siblings have a bath with 108 pots of cold water to fight the heat of summer. After this royal bath ceremony the three Deities are sick and they stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days. This period is known as ‘Anasara’ or ‘Anavasara’ period commences from Jyestha purnima and ends with Ashadha amavasya.

The divine siblings battle a strong fever and are cured at a secret place on the temple premises. The servitors do the special ‘Phuluri Tela’ Seva — a unique healing method — to cure the deities effectively.

“When the God himself goes on a self-quarantine for a period of 14 days, it is a big message for us, the mere mortals,” highlights Bagchi.

He further said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has set an example for all by registering his sister’s details in the State Government’s COVID-19 portal.

The Gajapati Maharaj of Puri and his wife have also self-quarantined themselves in their home here after returning from the abroad, he added.

Bagchi stated that the 104 Health Helpline received13,627 calls yesterday and so far, about 2,131 registrations have been made of persons with travel history abroad.

Out of 47 samples, 46 have tested negative and condition of the lone person tested positive is stable, he added.