The auspicious Panchuka Vrat begins today in Puri, though it will be celebrated for only four days this year. The period marks the awakening of Mahaprabhu Lord Jagannath on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi after a four-month sleep ('Chaturmas').
On the first day, the deity is adorned in the special Standing Besha (Lakshminarayan Besha). The fast is also traditionally known as Bhishma Panchuka, commemorating Bhishma Pitamah’s teachings on his bed of arrows, as heard by Lord Krishna.
To manage the massive influx of devotees—expected to number in the lakhs—the police administration has deployed 32 platoons of police force and erected barricades from Market Chowk. Devotees observe this fast for blessings, including the desire for children, and seek darshan of Mahaprabhu with Mahalakshmi.