According to temple sources, the deities adorn around 30 different designs of ornaments which include gold, diamond, silver and other precious metals
Lord Jagannath and His divine siblings were adorned with mounds of glittering gold ornaments for the grand Suna Besha ritual, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country.
Puri: A shimmering spectacle unfolded in Odisha’s pilgrim city of Puri on Sunday as Lord Jagannath and His divine siblings were adorned with mounds of glittering gold ornaments for the grand Suna Besha ritual, drawing lakhs of devotees from across the country.
The sacred boulevard leading to the Singhadwar of Srimandir came alive with chants of Jai Jagannath as people thronged the city for a glimpse of the Holy Trinity — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — resplendent in their rare golden attire atop their majestic chariots.
This ritual, held once a year on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi, is one of the most cherished moments of the annual Rath Yatra festival, when the deities, having completed their sojourn at the Sri Gundicha Temple, appear before devotees in their most opulent form, draped in dazzling gold jewellery.
A Tradition Gilded in Legend
According to temple tradition, the golden ornaments — including Suna Hasta (golden hands), Suna Payar (golden feet), Suna Mukuta (crowns), and intricate necklaces and peacock feather adornments — are securely kept in the Ratna Bhandar, the temple’s treasury. On this auspicious day, they are brought out with elaborate ceremonial care by the Bhandara Mekap servitors under tight security and handed over to the Puspalaka and Daitapati priests for the ritual adornment.
As legend has it, the tradition of Suna Besha dates back to 1460 AD, when Gajapati King Kapilendra Deb returned victorious from a military campaign and donated a vast trove of gold ornaments to Lord Jagannath. Since then, the ritual has been an inseparable part of the Rath Yatra festivities.
Lakhs Brave the Rush for a Divine Glimpse
Despite the sweltering July heat and crushing crowds, devotees waited patiently for hours to witness the breathtaking sight. Aware of the tragic stampede incident on June 29 that claimed three lives, the district administration left no room for complacency this time.
Crowd management messages were constantly circulated on mobile phones across Odisha, and by 2 p.m., authorities informed devotees that the waiting time to enter Puri had reached 45 minutes at Batagaon, the main entry point to the city. Heavy congestion was also reported on the Bhubaneswar–Puri National Highway, with streams of vehicles inching toward the holy city.
The Final Phase of the Divine Journey
With Suna Besha marking the penultimate day of the Rath Yatra, the festivities will continue on Monday with the Adharapana ritual — where a special drink is offered to the Parswa Debatas (guardian deities on the chariots) and to liberate wandering spirits believed to hover around the deities during the festival.
The following day, on Tuesday, July 8, the Holy Trinity will make their solemn return to the temple in the revered Niladri Bije ritual, reoccupying their jewelled seats at the sanctum sanctorum or Ratna Singhasan of the Srimandir.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and safe experience for the remaining rituals, marking the culmination of the week-long spiritual spectacle that every Odia holds close to their heart.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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