Puri, Nov 23: Devotees flock to Puri Srimandir as Odisha enters the celebratory period of Panchuka, marking the final five days of the sacred Kartika month. 

During this period, adherents abstain from non-vegetarian fare, and each day sees the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshana—adorned in distinct attires.

On this inaugural day of Panchuka, the divine beings are bedecked in the 'Laxmi Narayan' besha. Simultaneously, the day is observed as "Hari Utthapana Ekadashi," drawing an augmented number of devotees to Puri Srimandir for darshan.

Anticipating the influx of devotees, 40 platoons of police personnel have been strategically deployed. According to Vedic beliefs, Lord Vishnu enters a slumber on Ashadha Ekadashi and awakens on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi. It is widely held that during the Kartika month, both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu descend to Earth, adding to the auspicious significance of the occasion.

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