In the famous Rath Yatra at Puri Devasnana Purnima is an inseparable part. The day is believed to be the birthday of the Lord Jagannatha. This day, the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha, the deities are bathed by 108 pitchers of water of the well situated near the Sitala temple in the confines of the Jagannatha temple. Having been bathed, the deities are dressed up in the Gajanana or Ganesha Vesha. Then, their daily food offering or Bhogalagi is made on the Snanamandapa, in a full public view, without remaining any virtual difference between the devotees and the Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna. These traditions are followed before the legendary Ratha Yatra celebrated here.
The rituals performed in the Rath Yatra festival are maintained in the 'Niladri Mohadaya', a religious text written in Oriya language. Devasnana Purnima or Snana Yatra, exclusively being the festival of Lord Jagannath, is believed to be one of the oldest festivals. As per the Skanda Purana, Raja Indradyumna set this bathing ceremony when he installed the wooden deities here. Apart from Puri, the festival is simultaneously celebrated in all other major shrines in Orissa. Due to its own importance and elaboration in Puri, thousands of national and international visitors come here to be a part of this grand celebration.