The Business Bytes
Puri, July 17, 2024 (TBB Bureau): More than 15 lakh devotees gathered on Wednesday to witness the magnificent “Suna Besha” ritual of Lord Jagannath in front of the iconic Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. During this ritual, the deities Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra were adorned with elaborate gold ornaments embedded with precious stones, marking a centuries-old tradition.
The ritual took place in front of the ‘Singha Dwar’ (Lion’s Gate) of the 12th-century temple, where each deity seated on their chariots was dressed in intricate golden jewellery and attire. According to temple officials, the gold ornaments used in the “Suna Besha” ritual weighed approximately 208 kg and included detailed pieces such as hands, feet, crowns, earrings, necklaces, lotus, and conch motifs.
“This ritual of adorning the deities with golden attire, known as ‘Suna Besha,’ occurs two days after their return to the Shree Jagannath Temple from Gundicha Temple,” explained Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
The event allowed devotees to have darshan (sight) of the adorned deities until 11 pm, as confirmed by Puri district Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, who assured smooth darshan arrangements for the multitude of devotees.
Historically, the tradition of “Suna Besha” dates back to the 15th century during the reign of King Kapilendra Deb, who contributed significantly to the ritual by donating gold and diamonds for the deities. While the number of ornament designs has reduced over time, the essence and significance of the ritual remain unchanged.
Apart from the Rath Yatra, the “Suna Besha” ritual occurs four times a year within the temple premises during Dussehra, Kartika Purnima, Pausa Purnima, and Dola Purnima, enriching the spiritual calendar of the temple.
Security arrangements were stringent, with 5,700 police personnel deployed to ensure the safety of devotees in Puri. Additionally, East Coast Railways facilitated devotees’ travel with 46 special trains running to Puri for their convenience.
