COVID-19 Pandemic Likely To Deprive Devotees Of Witnessing ‘Nagarjuna Besha’ In Puri This Year

Puri: Devotees are most likely to be deprived of having a glimpse of Nagarjuna Besha (attire) of Lord Jagannath in Puri, which is going to be held in November this year after 26 years, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the tradition of the Jagannath Temple, Lord Jagannath is decorated in Laxmi Narayan Besha, Bankachuda Besha, Tribrikram Besha, Laxmi Nrusingha Besha and Suna Besha during the month of Kartika.

As Mala Masa (month) falls on Dwadashi Tithi in the Kartika month this year, the sevayats will also adorn the Lord in Nagarjuna Besha.

Notably, the Nagarjuna Besha of the Lord is held consecutively for two years.

It was last held consecutively in 1993 and 1994.

During the Nagarjuna Besha in November 1993, six persons had died and 20 others injured in a stampede inside the temple as the security personnel allegedly blocked the main gate to ensure smooth darshan for the VVIPs.

To ensure no such incident, the state government had taken adequate precautions in the next year and successfully conducted the rare attire ceremony of the Lord.

Although the state government had constituted a judicial commission led by Justice J Mahapatra to probe the incident, the report is strangely not available till date.