The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra began on Saturday in Puri, where the Snana Purnima ceremonies were held under strict security. Snana Purnima, which falls on the full moon day of Jyestha, is very important to the Odia people. 108 pitchers of holy water are used to bathe the Sibling deities after they are set on the bathing platform. Deities are clothed in Gajanana Besha after taking the sacred bath. After the Lords are brought to the “Anasara Ghara” on Pahandi, the Snana Yatra comes to an end. The gods get sick shortly after the ritual bath and are placed in a 15-day quarantine. They take a full two weeks off before making a reappearance on Netrotsav, the day before Srigundicha, the first day of Rath Yatra.