Devotees Throng Puri Jagannath Temple On Dola Purnima, Deities Attired In ‘Sunabesha’

Puri: Special rituals are being performed at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri while the sibling deities are attired with gold on the occasion of Dola Purnima on Tuesday.

As festivities gripped the entire state, thousands of devotees have thronged the seaside pilgrim town to catch a glimpse of the deities of the 12^th century shrine on the auspicious occasion. Dola Purnima is among the 12 annual Yatras at Jagannath Temple.

Notably, Lord Jagannath is worshipped as Dola Govinda during the festival of colours. On this occasion, Lord Jagannath and his devotees are seen playing fagu together with abir.

Sunabesha, golden attire ceremony, of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan is held on Ratna Singhasana inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine. A large number of devotees thronged the temple for darshan of the deities decked up in gold jewellery.

Sources said representative idols of the Trinity – Gobinda, Bhudevi and Sridevi – are carried on Dola Vimanas (specially decorated palanquins) to Dola Mandap (altar) on the occasion. The deities and servitors will then play Holi by smearing colours on each other, keeping with the tradition.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) made necessary arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the rituals and darshan of the deities in proper coordination with the servitors, sources said.

Notably, the deities adorn golden attire on five occasions a year and Dola Purnima is one of them. The other days are: ‘Ratha Jatra’ (July), ‘Dusshera’ (October), ‘Panchuka’ in the month of Kartik (November) and ‘Pusha Purnima’ (December).