A wave of devotion enveloped Puri as thousands gathered to witness the Suna Besha, a grand ritual featuring the adorned deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
On Sunday, the sacred city of Puri witnessed a massive gathering of devotees who came to observe the Suna Besha, a mesmerizing ritual in which the divine siblings, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, were decorated with resplendent gold ornaments while seated on their chariots.
This divine spectacle took place in front of the Singhadwara, the Lion Gate of the Jagannath Temple, where the deities, clad in golden regalia, were perched on their chariots after the Bahuda Yatra, or the return journey of the Rath Yatra. Despite the immense crowd, the event proceeded without any disruptions, maintaining a tranquil and spiritually charged atmosphere.
According to tradition, the deities were adorned with more than 208 kilograms of gold ornaments, including golden limbs, headgear, intricately crafted garlands, a golden chakra (discus), silver conches, and symbolic items like a golden ploughshare and pestle. This opulent ritual, known locally as Suna Besha, is also referred to as Rajarajeswar Besha or Bada Tadhau Besha in the Odia language.
Historical records indicate that the Suna Besha tradition began in 1460 CE during the reign of Gajapati King Kapilendra Deva. Scholars and temple servitors point out that the Tadhau Karan, a special category of temple servitors, played a pivotal role in introducing this practice. The king commissioned the crafting of 138 types of gold ornaments for the deities, some adorned with precious gemstones.
While the exquisite adornment captivated the devotees, the large influx of pilgrims resulted in severe traffic congestion in and around Puri. All designated parking areas reached their capacity, and several key roads leading to the city experienced prolonged gridlocks.
The spiritual celebrations will persist as the deities are set to return to the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple during the special ritual of Niledri Bije scheduled for Tuesday.