The day before Ratha-yatra is celebrated as Gundica-marjana, the cleansing of the Gundica temple.

At Jagannatha Puri, days before the Ratha-yatra celebration, devotees thoroughly wash the Gundica temple located three kilometers northeast of the Jagannatha temple. This is where the Lord Jagannatha stays for one week at the time of the Ratha-yatra celebrations.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would personally clean the Gundica temple along with hundreds of devotees. The Lord did this just to instruct others. While He cleaned the temple in great jubilation, He chanted the Hare Krishna mantra. When the Gundica temple was thoroughly cleansed, it became very purified, cool and pleasing, just as if the Lord’s own mind appeared there. Indeed, after everything had been washed, the minds of the devotees were as clean as the rooms. By enacting this pastime of cleaning the Gundica temple, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed us on how we should receive Lord Krishna within our heart. If we desire to see Krishna seated within our hearts, we must first of all purify our hearts fully and prepare to receive His lotus feet.

At Mayapur, the main temple is completely cleaned by the devotees at noon. Men, women and children all participate with great enthusiasm, preparing with great hope, to receive the Lord into their hearts by cleaning the Lord’s temple. All of them chant the holy names of the Lord, sing and in great jubilation perform Gundica-marjana.