Prabarana Sasthi

Prabarana Sasthi (Odhan Sasthi) marks the beginning of the winter dressing season for Lord Jagannath and the deities. From this day onwards, the deities are dressed in warm, heavy shawls and winter garments to protect them from the cold — a deeply intimate ritual that reflects the devotional belief that the Lord experiences the seasons just as His devotees do. This transition is observed with special puja and is a tender, much-loved ceremony.