Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Why does Lord Jagannath feel the bitter neem offering? Know the secret behind it..

Why Lord Jagannath is Offered Neem Ka Bhog: Puri's Jagannath Rath Yatra is considered to be one of the most grand, famous, and revered pilgrimages of Hinduism. This journey is organized every year on the second day of Shukla Paksha of the month of Ashadh, in which Lord Jagannath along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra rides on a chariot and departs from Srimandir to Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees reach Puri on this auspicious occasion and gain virtue by pulling the chariot of the Lord. This is not only a religious event, but also a unique symbol of India's cultural heritage and devotion.

This year this divine journey will start on 27 June 2025. There are many old and special traditions associated with the Rath Yatra, one of which is to offer bitter neem leaves to Lord Jagannath. This tradition may sound strange, but there is deep religious sentiment and historical significance hidden behind it. It has always been a matter of curiosity for the devotees to know why bitter neem is offered to God instead of sweet. Come, and let us know the mythological and spiritual beliefs behind this special tradition.

Why is neem offered to Lord Jagannath?

There is a very touching story behind the tradition of offering neem powder after offering 56 offerings to Lord Jagannath. It is said that an old woman lived near the Jagannath Puri temple, who considered God as her son. She used to see every day that 56 types of diverse and heavy food are offered to God. One day she thought that after consuming so much offering, her son might have stomach ache, so she made medicinal neem powder and reached the temple so that she could offer it to God as an offering.

Soldiers insulted the powder, and devotees got upset.

When that woman reached the temple to give that powder to God, the soldiers posted at the gate did not let her go inside. Not only this, they snatched the neem powder from her hand threw it away humiliated her, and drove her out of the temple. Seeing this, the woman became very sad that she could not give the medicine made with love to her son God.

God took cognizance of the devotee's pain.

That night Lord Jagannath appeared in the dream of the King of Puri and informed him about the whole incident. God told the king that he had tolerated the insult of a true devotee and this was unfair. He ordered the king to go to that woman's house himself and apologize and get the same neem powder prepared again and offer it to God.

This tradition started from then.

The next day the king followed the Lord's command. He went to the woman's house, apologized, and got the powder prepared again. That mother prepared that neem powder with great love and the king offered it to Lord Jagannath as an offering. God gladly accepted it. From then onwards, the tradition started that after 56 offerings, Neem powder is also offered to the Lord, which is performed with full devotion and love to date.

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