PURI, INDIA, January 4, 2007: A new ceremony has been initiated by the priests of Jagannath Temple in Puri in honor of the Sea God. Similar to evening prayers on the River Ganga, devotees of the Jagannath Temple participate in a special puja right on the beach followed by the performance of the traditional Naga dance and the singing of bhajanas. Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Puri, says, “We want it to be famous as the spiritual capital of India, from where one can get the message of world peace. Everyone should be independent and intelligent, and follow the path of truth and welfare.” In a special gesture the news release points out the blessings that culminate the puja, “Water was taken out of the sea as a part of the religious ceremony, and sprinkled on all as a gesture of the Sea God’s blessings on its devotees.”
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