Jay Jagannath, Jagannath Puri Temple, Odisha Byanjana Dwadashi Lekhani Sebaka Content provided by T.K.V. Karuna e.mail id: [email protected] In an extravagant affair, as many as 555 dishes are offered to the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on the occasion of Byanjan Dwadashi at the Gourabihar mutt in Odisha’s holy town Puri. Byanjana Dwadashi: Byanjan Dwadashi is observed on the 12th day of the bright lunar phase of the month of Margashira of the Hindu calendar. It is believed that on this day Mother Yasoda used to prepare hundreds of dishes for Lord Krishna. “Hundreds of devotees of Lord Jagannath come together and prepare these dishes at the mutt. 555 dishes are prepared and offered to Lord Jagannath and his siblings as well as Radha and Krishna. The dishes included a number of preparations made of rice, pulses and vegetables. After offering the dishes to the deities, it is served to the devotees”. The special feature of Byanjan Dwadashi at Gourbihar mutt is that every year more items are added to the menu. A TO Z INDIA ● DECEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 13