Puri: Thousands of devotees thronged Puri on Friday for the Suna Besha (golden attire) darshan of the sibling deities at Jagannath Temple.
According to mythology, Lord Ram was consecrated as the King of Ayodhya on Pousa Purnima (full moon day of the Odia month Pousa) after his 14-year sojourn. As Lord Jagannath is the incarnation of Lord Ram, the servitors perform the Abhiseka niti (consecration rituals) of the Lord as Lord Raghunath in the temple by adorning him with gold ornaments.
While the Suna Besha of the Lords in the 12th century shrine is held five times a year, the servitors, while adorning the triad with golden attire during the Pousa Purnima, also prepare bows and arrows with flowers. It is known as Rajarajeswar Besha.
Briefing the media here, senior servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra said that though the lunar eclipse will occur on Friday night, no special rituals will be performed in the temple since it is a partial eclipse.
According to eminent scholar of Jagannath culture, Surya Narayan Rathasharma, since the lunar eclipse will not be fully visible, there is no mention of observation of special rituals in the Hindu almanack.
The partial eclipse will begin at 10.37 pm and end at 2.42 am.
