Decoction being given to Lord Jagannath

VARANASi: Special prayers are being offered to Lord Jagannath and scores of devotees are turning up to receive 'kadha', believed to be a panacea for illnesses and diseases, at Jagannath temple in Assi area, which has become a major crowd puller, in the morning.
According to Hindu mythology, a fortnight prior to the start of Rathyatra in Puri, the deities, including Lord Jagannath fell ill.The devotees perform sacred bath and shower love and affection. Due to this, all the religious functions including worshiping and public viewing is abandoned for a fortnight while the deities are fed specially prepared 'Kadha' (a decoction made from spices and herbs like pepper, cardamom, tulsi leaves, sandalwood, rose petals, ganga jal and rose water) to help them recover from illness.
“This year is an exception, where the deities will be fed 'kadha' for 45 days due to 'Adhik Maas' (extra month in Hindu lunar calendar). As per beliefs, after bathing in sacred water from morning till 10 at night, Lord Jagannath took ill on Jyeshtha Purnima (full moon of month). It happened on June 2 this year. The gates of Jagannath temple (situated on the banks of Ganga in Dumraobagh Colony in Assi) was then closed from the next day onwards,” chief priest of Jagannath temple Sriram Sharma said on Wednesday. “Since June 3, Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balaram and Subhadra are being served special 'kadha' which is believed to cure their illness,” he added.
This bitter decoction is offered as prasad to the devotees who visit the temple in hope to keep the dreaded ailments at bay. The kadha is offered to 'Rath Yatris' during three-day Rathyatra festival which has anti-fever, anti-malarial, pain-reliever and digestive properties.
“The reason why people believe in this tradition and consume 'Kadha' is because it has actually helped people and their near and dear ones to recover form illnesses. “Last year, I was informed that the decoction had helped a student of BHU to recuperate at Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, when the doctors had all given up hopes,” Sharma said, adding that it helps people to tide over illness and diseases.
Talking of the age-old tradition which marks the start of the three-day festivities of Rathyatra, Sharma said, “Lord Jagannath and his siblings will be offered juice of 'parwal' (a type of vegetable) on July 16 (day of Aashad, Krishna Paksh and Amavasya) and public viewing as well as worshiping will be allowed on this day after decoration and sacred bath.” Special bhog of puri, sabzi and mithai would also be offered to the deities on the occasion. Devotees thronging the temple will also receive 'parwal' juice as prasad and would be allowed to worship the deities after a month-and-half prohibition, added the priest, who represented the fourth generation of priests serving the temple and spearheading the tradition.
Lord Jagannath's Rath will leave the premises of over 200-year-old Jagannath temple to Rathyatra area on July 18, marking the start of three-day festivities in the city.