Odisha Rath Yatra: Admn gears up for Holy Trinity’s Suna Besha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, July 8:

Hectic preparations are on for the much-awaited Suna Besha or decoration of the three deities with gold ornaments this evening at Odisha’s holy city of Puri.

With the smooth conduct of the Bahuda Yatra or return journeyof the three deities on Monday, the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration, in association with the Daitapati servitors has made elaborate arrangements for a hassle-free Suna Besha of the Holy Trinity.

Sources in the district administration said that about 10 lakh devotees are expected to land up in the pilgrim city to witness the Suna Besha.

To ensure smooth darshan of the deities, the police have made adequate arrangements by erecting a one-way barricade from the Marichikote Chhak from where the devotees would move in a queue. After the darshan of the Lords, they will return to the barricade point at the Marichikote Chhak.

Meanwhile, a special barricade is being made around the three chariots where the armed policemen would be deployed to avert any untoward incident during the festivity.

Temple sources said, the servitors have performed the Mangala Alati of the deities at 6 am, Abakasa at 8 am, Gopala Ballav at 10 am and Sakala Dhupa at 11 am.

This would be followed by Mahasnana at 1 pm, Madhyanna Dhupa at 2 pm and Sandhya Alati at 4 pm after which the servitors would perform the Rajarajeswari Vesha (Suna Besha, also known as Bada Tadau Besha or Raja Besha) of the deities that would begin between 5 pm and 6.30 pm.

The devotees will be allowed to have a darshan of the deities from 5 pm to 11 pm while the servitors, during the period, would perform the Sandhya Dhupa at 8 pm and Suna Besha Mailam at 10 pm. The Chandana Lagi ritual would be performed at 11.30 pm, Badasinghara Besha at 12 am (midnight) and Ballabha Badasinghara Besha at 3 am.

Suna Besha

The Suna bhesa takes place on the day after the return of the Lords from Gundicha or Bahuda Yatra. On the day of Bada Ekadasi, or the 11th day of the bright fortnight of the Asadha month .

During the Suna Besha, the deities while on their chariots , don hands, arms and crowns made of solid gold. They are also decorated with gold diadems, hands and feet made of gold.

Lord Jagannath holds a gold Chakra (Disc) in his right hand and Silver Sankha (Conch) in his left hand. Lord Balabhadra holds a gold Hala (plough) in his left hand and a golden Gada (mace) in his right hand.

They are also offered sweet drinks, adhara pana, from  huge cylindrical earthen pots that reach up to their lips.