Bhubaneswar: The Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in Odisha’s Puri city will arrange a new set of ornaments for the ‘Suna Besha’ ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The apex decision-making body of the 12th century shrine approved a proposal to this effect on Saturday.
“The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will make the ornaments from its own resources. We have also planned to seek donations from interested individuals and organisations in this regard,” said Jagannath temple chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee.
He saif the temple officials have a fairly good knowledge about the existing ornaments of the three deities. So the authorities will not face any problem in arranging a new set of jewellery for Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
“We got detailed information regarding the weight and design of the existing ornaments of the deities during the inventory of the valuables stored at the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury) recently. We will refer to that information while making the new set of jewellery,” Padhee informed.
The temple authorities will consult servitors of the shrine and other stakeholders before making of the new ornaments.
“A technical committee will be constituted to oversee the entire process. It will select experienced as well as skilled jewellers to make the new set of ornaments for the deities. The whole process will be carried out in a transparent manner,” Padhee said.
As per tradition, Suna Besha ritual is conducted five times a year. The deities adorn the Golden Attire four times a year inside the sanctum sanctorum of Srimandir, while the ritual is held once on the chariots during the annual Rath Yatra.
Servitors decorate the deities with gold ornaments including Sri Hasta (golden hand), Sri Payar (golden feet), Sri Mukuta (golden crown), Sri Mayur Chandrika (golden peacock feather), Sri Kundal (golden earring), Sri Rahurekha (golden aura) and Sri Mala (gold necklace) as part of the Suna Besha ritual.
Suna Besha ritual is believed to have been introduced during the reign of Gajapati King Kapilendra Deb in 1460. It’s said that Kapilendra Deb donated huge quantities of gold and silver ornaments to Srimandir after conquering several kingdoms during his rule in Odisha.