In honour of the holy Dhanu Sankranti, the Puri Srimandir's Pahili Bhoga ceremony got underway on Tuesday. Special ceremonies were carried out in the temple with customary zeal on this particular occasion.
The temple doors were opened at two in the morning as part of the Dwara Phita (opening of the temple doors) ceremony. As part of the day's ceremonial activities, Pahili Bhoga was offered to the Holy Trinity between 5:30 and 6 a.m. Today at 11 p.m., the Pahuda rite is to be performed.
Temple officials claim that the Pahili Bhoga rite, which is performed early in the morning in accordance with long-standing customs, has significant religious importance throughout the Dhanu month. From tonight till January 13, the special Pahili Bhoga ceremony will observed before the Holy Trinity.

In the meantime, the Debabhisheka ceremony and the uncommon Suna Besha of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will take place at the temple on January 3, attracting a sizable number of people.
Tradition holds that Goddess Lakshmi stays at her parents' house for a month. Mother Yashoda is supposed to serve Mahaprabhu unique treats as part of the tradition, such as the traditional Dhanu Muan and pitha made from lentils and wheat flour and sweetened with ghee and jaggery.
In order to observe the unique ceremonies and ask for divine favours, devotees flocked to the temple.