Gahana Bije (Odia:ଗହନ ବିଜେ) is the ceremonial visit which is done by once in a generation of theGajapati Queens ofOdisha where they do specialPuja to LordJagannatha.
The ceremony includes many restrictions inside theJagannath Temple, Puri. The queen can have darshan of the Lord as much as she can but she can perform ritual only once in her lifetime[1]At that time, all the aged priests and public should vacate the temple,[2] and only oneBrahmin boy and twoBrahmin married ladies should accompany the queen to thesanctum sanctorum.[3]Then all other princely states ofOdisha are invited to be present inPuri. The queen comes in a closed palanquin so that no body can witness her. Processions and martial arts are also performed before the palanquin. After coming to temple, all the gates are closed and queen makes special Puja to the sibling deities. Finally she is accompanied by His Highness Gajapati Maharaja to the Royal Palace.
Last time in 2007 the present queen of Gajapati ShriDibyasingha Deba, Maharani Leelabati Pattamahadei at the age of 51 came for such Gahana Bije. In 1966 her mother-in-law Maharani Surjyamani Pattamahadei had her Gahana Bije on 26 October 1966. and on 18 September 1933 the then queen Chandramani Pattamahadei had visited the temple for Gahana Bije.[4]
gahan Bijehad given the women the power for once the right of the servitor to worship the deities.
As per tradition, nobody should be in the temple when she visits it for Gahana Bije
The queen, helped by a boy priest and two married Brahmin women, performed the special puja
A 'Gahana Bije' was also held on 18 September 1933 when Chandramani Pattamahadei, wife of the then maharaja ram Chandra Deb visited the temple for the first time
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