Bhubaneswar: The Holy Triad of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra were bedecked with gold jewellery after some hours of decoration by the servitors as part of the Suna Besha ritual on Wednesday. The ritual is celebrated a day after the Bahuda Yatra in Puri town.
The ritual was halted for some time as heavens opened up. The chariots were draped in polythene sheets to protect the Gods from getting drenched in the downpour.
Once the rain receded some time later, the Suna Besha nitees of the divine siblings were completed and rituals performed.
Suna Besha also known as Rajarajeshwara Besha, is observed five times a year when the Lord and His siblings are decked up with gold and jewellery. But, the one observed during Bahuda is called the Bada-Tadau Besha.
The Bada-Tadau Besha is the only Suna Besha done outside the temple in the chariots. The other four Beshas’ are observed inside the temple during Magha Purnima, Dashahara (Vijyadashami), Karthik Purnima and Pousa Purnima when the deities are adorned with the ornaments on the Ratna Singhasana in sanctum sanctorum.
The deities are adorned in rich gold ornaments like Sri Mukuta, Sri Payara, Sri Hasta and various other golden weapons like Gada (Mace), Hala (Plough) and Chakra.
For the second time in a row, the devotees are banned from visiting the Bada Danda for a darshan and all the events of Rath Yatra are being live telecast.
