Adhara Pana Significance & Spiritual Meaning
Sweet drink ritual at Puri during the Rath Yatra. Large earthen pots filled with a milk-jaggery-spice mixture are placed before the chariots and then broken so the drink flows freely — believed to satiate the spirits accompanying the deities and the unseen devotees.
Adhara Pana Mythology & Legend
In Puri tradition, the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra travel with the visible deities AND with all the unseen presences (chetan and achetan beings) — celestial beings, spirits, and the bhutas attending the Lord. As mortal devotees can pull the chariot and receive darshan, but the unseen accompanying souls cannot partake of earthly bhog, Adhara Pana is offered as their portion. The earthen pots are raised to the level of the deities' adhar (lower lip) — giving the ritual its name — and then ceremonially broken so the drink seeps into the earth, reaching all beings unseen. The ritual emphasises Jagannath's grace as universal — extending beyond what is visible.
Adhara Pana 2027 Puja Rituals & Vidhi
- Large earthen pots are filled with a mixture of milk, chhena, sugar, ghee, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and herbs.
- Pots are placed in front of each of the three chariots on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi.
- After offering with chants, temple servitors break the pots from the height of the deities' adhar (lower lips).
- The drink flows freely onto the ground and is allowed to soak in — it is not collected as prasad.
- No human consumption of the pana is permitted; it is exclusively the offering for unseen beings.
Adhara Pana Traditional Foods & Prasad
- ●Mahaprasad
- ●Khaja
- ●Rasagola
Adhara Pana Do's & Don't's
Do's
- ✓Witness the breaking of the pots if at Puri — one of the most distinctive Puri rituals
- ✓Observe respectfully and silently
- ✓Reflect on the inclusion of unseen beings in the Lord's grace
Don'ts
- ✗Do not attempt to collect or consume the spilled pana — it is sacred to non-human recipients
- ✗Do not jostle or push during the ritual
Adhara Pana — Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Adhara Pana?
- Sweet drink ritual at Puri during the Rath Yatra.
- When is Adhara Pana 2027?
- In 2027, Adhara Pana falls on ಗುರುವಾರ, ಜುಲೈ 15, 2027.
- What are the Adhara Pana puja rituals?
- Large earthen pots are filled with a mixture of milk, chhena, sugar, ghee, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and herbs.; Pots are placed in front of each of the three chariots on Ashadha Shukla Dwadashi.; After offering with chants, temple servitors break the pots from the height of the deities' adhar (lower lips).; The drink flows freely onto the ground and is allowed to soak in — it is not collected as prasad.
- What to eat on Adhara Pana?
- Mahaprasad, Khaja, Rasagola
- What should you do on Adhara Pana?
- Witness the breaking of the pots if at Puri — one of the most distinctive Puri rituals; Observe respectfully and silently; Reflect on the inclusion of unseen beings in the Lord's grace
- What should you avoid on Adhara Pana?
- Do not attempt to collect or consume the spilled pana — it is sacred to non-human recipients; Do not jostle or push during the ritual
- Which deity is worshipped on Adhara Pana?
- Adhara Pana is dedicated to Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra.
Upcoming Adhara Pana Dates in 2026, 2027 & Beyond
Adhara Pana is a sacred Hindu festival observed on the tithi shown. Dates are calculated from the Panchang for your region.
Times shown for New Delhi, India (IST)
| Date | Day | Moonrise Time | Special Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಜುಲೈ 26,2026 | ಭಾನುವಾರ | 05:07 pm | — |
| ಜುಲೈ 15,2027 | ಗುರುವಾರ | 04:59 pm | — |