Puri, Odisha

Why this place matters

Puri, on the Bay of Bengal in Odisha, is one of the Char Dham and the home of Lord Jagannath, whose temple is the centre of Odia religious life. The sea here is called the Mahodadhi (mahodadhi = the great ocean), and tradition counts it among the sacred waters where rites for ancestors may be done.

The Odia tradition of remembering ancestors is strong, and Mahalaya, the last day of Pitru Paksha, sees thousands of families offer Shraddha and Pind Daan at Puri each year, many from across Odisha and from outside the state. Practices differ by community; follow your family's custom and your priest's guidance.

Rituals performed here

• Mahodadhi (the sea shore): Pilgrims take a vow on the shore, bathe in the sea, and offer Tarpan and pindas at the water's edge under the priests' guidance. Near Swargadwar, the beach area is also associated with last rites.
• Sacred tanks: Reports of Mahalaya list the Markanda, Shwetaganga, Indradyumna and Narendra tanks as places where priests conduct rites.
• Jagannath temple: Darshan of Jagannath is part of most families' visits. Entry to the main temple has specific rules; check what is currently in force before you travel.

For the general method see the Shraddha days, Pind Daan vidhi and Tarpan vidhi guides on this site.

Best time to visit

Traditional occasions. Pitru Paksha, and above all Mahalaya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya), is the great day for Shraddha at Puri. Other Amavasya days are also kept.

Practical season. October to February is the most comfortable, with warm days and mild nights. March to June is hot and humid. The monsoon runs from about June to September, with heavy rain and high seas. Cyclones can affect the Odisha coast, most often from October to December, and the sea may be closed to bathing. Rath Yatra, held in the Ashadha Shukla fortnight, fills Puri to capacity and is poorly suited to a quiet rite. Pitru Paksha falls at the end of the monsoon and is crowded.

Planning your visit

Puri has a large community of priests and temple servitors, called pandas, and many Odia families have traditional ties with one. Ask your elders or family priest.

• Book through an official or well-reviewed channel, and agree on the scope of the rite and the dakshina (dakshina = the priest's offering) before beginning. Beware of touts on the beach, the station and the temple road who offer packages or claim special access.
• Time needed: the rite takes a morning. Allow one to two days including darshan and other sites.
• Getting there: Puri has its own railway station. The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, about an hour or two by road.
• What to wear and carry: clothes you can bathe in and change out of, a towel, sandals, a hat, sunscreen, water, and a bag for wet clothes. Keep valuables to a minimum at the beach.

Practical tips

• The sea at Puri has strong undertow. Bathe only in the marked zones and with lifeguards present, and keep children and the elderly close to the shore.
• Pitru Paksha crowds are heavy; the beach and tanks are busy from dawn.
• Book rooms ahead for Pitru Paksha, Rath Yatra and winter holidays.
• The beach is sandy and level, which suits many elderly pilgrims, but hot sand can burn bare feet at midday.
• Official information is available from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, the Odisha tourism department and the Puri district administration.