Puri: It was a divine exhibition of magnificence as the Trinity – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, who returned to their to their abode from the Gundicha Temple after the nine-day annual sojourn on Wednesday appeared wearing pure gold ornaments aboard the chariots in front of the 12th century shrine.
The occasion was the annual Suna Besha, the golden avatar of the Trinity.
The deities donned more than 200 kg gold ornaments and gave darshan to devotees.
After all the rituals were completed, the servitors began embellishing the Lords with gold ornaments and other jewellery including Sri Hasta (gold hand), Sri Payar (gold feet), Sri Mukuta (big gold crown), Sri Mayur Chandrika (gold peacock feather for Lord Jagannath), Sri Chulapati (an ornament traditionally worn on the forehead), Sri Kundal (gold earring with a hanging ball), Sri Rahurekha (a half square-shaped gold aura), Sri Mala (necklaces), Sri Chita (third eye of Lords), Sri Chakra (gold wheel), Sri Gada (gold bludgeon), Sri Padma (gold lotus) and Sri Sankha ( a silver conch).
This time, however , due to Covid-19 restriction, devotees were not allowed in the Bada Danda. The crores of devotees across the globe however had the glimpses of God’s golden Avtar through virtual mode as the administration has made all arrangements for live telecast of the rituals.
According to legend, Suna Besha was introduced during the era of King Kapilendra Deb in 1460. He had conquered a kingdom and came to Puri with huge quantities on gold on 16 elephants. He donated all the gold to the Jagannath Temple, said a shrine servitor.
Earlier to Sunabesha, the servitors performed rituals like Mangala Alati and Mailama-Tadapa Lagi early in the morning, followed by Abakasha, Gopala Ballava, Sakala Dhupa, Mailama Lagi, Madhayna Dhupa and Sandhya Alati before the Suna Besha.
The district administration and The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had taken necessary steps to ensure smooth and timely conduct of the rituals.