Candana yatra starts on the third lunar day of the waxing moon of Vaisakha month, and continues for twenty days. Lord Jagannatha gave direct instructions to King Indradyumna to perform this festival at this time. Smearing the body of the Lord with ointments is an act of devotion, and the best of ointments is sandalwood paste. Since the month of Vaisakha is very hot in India, the cooling effect of the sandalwood is very pleasing to the body of the Lord.

Sandalwood paste is applied all over the body of Jagannatha leaving only his two eyes visible. The utsava murtis (functional Deities - Vijay utsav) are taken on procession and are placed in a boat in the temple pond. To commemorate this festival, Lord Caitanya also carried out water sports with his devotees.

One can apply the candana saying:

      Om gandhadvaram duradarsan nitya pustam karisinim
      isvari'gum sarvabhutanam tvam ihopa hvaye sriyam

In Vrindavan and Mayapur other Deities are also anointed, such as Lord Nrsimha deva below:.

Lord Nrsimhadev in Mayapur

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in Vrindavan 2004

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram during Chandan yatra Vrindavan 2004

Sri Sri Radhe Shyamasundar during Chandan yatra 2004

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in Vrindavan during Chandan yatra 2002

Sri Sri Radha Raman Ji in Vrindavan during Chandan yatra

Gopivallabha in Boston USA during Chandan yatra

---