Puri: With the completion of the return journey of the deities to SriMandira, the time has come for the devotees to have a glimpse of the deities in their golden attire on the occasion of the Suna Besha. Today, after two years of the pandemic, lakhs of devotees have got the opportunity to witness this holy festival of the trinity.
This is one of the five occasions when the Trinity – Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra adorn with golden attire weighing more than 200 kgs of jewelry that is studded with rare gems and diamonds. According to the centuries old traditions of the Jagannath Temple, the Suna Besha is observed five times in a year during Bijaya Dashami, Kartika Purnima, Pausa Purnima, Magha Purnima and Asadha Ekadashi. The last Besha is being observed on the chariots in front of the Jagannath Temple taday.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the ritual. More than ten lakh devotees are having a hassle free darshan of the deities. The Grand Road or the Badadanda is today fully crowded amidst strict security arrangements made by the administration. Rituals like Madhyana Dhupa and Mailama, Sandhya Arati and Ekadashi Sarbanga niti are being performed in the eveenig with full pomp and gaiety. The Suna Besha rituals, started at about 4 pm will continue till 11 pm.