Adhara Pana 2028
Major FestivalMonday, 3 July 2028 Mumbai
Adhara Pana 2028 · Mumbai
| Date | Weekday | Special name |
|---|---|---|
| 3 July 2028Next | Monday | — |
Adhara Pana — Significance
Sweet drink ritual at Puri during the Rath Yatra. Large earthen pots filled with a milk-jaggery-spice mixture are placed before the chariots and then broken so the drink flows freely — believed to satiate the spirits accompanying the deities and the unseen devotees.
Adhara Pana — Mythology & Legend
In Puri tradition, the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra travel with the visible deities AND with all the unseen presences (chetan and achetan beings) — celestial beings, spirits, and the bhutas attending the Lord. As mortal devotees can pull the chariot and receive darshan, but the unseen accompanying souls cannot partake of earthly bhog, Adhara Pana is offered as their portion. The earthen pots are raised to the level of the deities' adhar (lower lip) — giving the ritual its name — and then ceremonially broken so the drink seeps into the earth, reaching all beings unseen. The ritual emphasises Jagannath's grace as universal — extending beyond what is visible.
Adhara Pana — Rituals & Puja Vidhi
- Large earthen pots are filled with a mixture of milk, chhena, sugar, ghee, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and herbs.
- Pots are placed in front of each of the three chariots on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi.
- After offering with chants, temple servitors break the pots from the height of the deities' adhar (lower lips).
- The drink flows freely onto the ground and is allowed to soak in — it is not collected as prasad.
- No human consumption of the pana is permitted; it is exclusively the offering for unseen beings.
Adhara Pana — Traditional Foods
- Mahaprasad
- Khaja
- Rasagola
Adhara Pana — Do / Don't
Do
- Witness the breaking of the pots if at Puri — one of the most distinctive Puri rituals
- Observe respectfully and silently
- Reflect on the inclusion of unseen beings in the Lord's grace
Don't
- Do not attempt to collect or consume the spilled pana — it is sacred to non-human recipients
- Do not jostle or push during the ritual
Adhara Pana — FAQ
- What is Adhara Pana?
- Sweet drink ritual at Puri during the Rath Yatra.
- When is Adhara Pana 2028?
- In 2028, Adhara Pana falls on Monday, 3 July 2028.
- What are the Adhara Pana puja rituals?
- Large earthen pots are filled with a mixture of milk, chhena, sugar, ghee, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and herbs.; Pots are placed in front of each of the three chariots on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi.; After offering with chants, temple servitors break the pots from the height of the deities' adhar (lower lips).; The drink flows freely onto the ground and is allowed to soak in — it is not collected as prasad.
- What to eat on Adhara Pana?
- Mahaprasad, Khaja, Rasagola
- What should you do on Adhara Pana?
- Witness the breaking of the pots if at Puri — one of the most distinctive Puri rituals; Observe respectfully and silently; Reflect on the inclusion of unseen beings in the Lord's grace
- What should you avoid on Adhara Pana?
- Do not attempt to collect or consume the spilled pana — it is sacred to non-human recipients; Do not jostle or push during the ritual