On Wednesday evening, the revered Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, will witness the resplendent Suna Besha ceremony, a sacred ritual that adorns Lord Jagannath and his siblings with exquisite gold ornaments, embellished with precious gems. This grand event takes place on the auspicious Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi Tithi, marking the deities’ return to their sacred abode after their annual sojourn.
The day begins with a series of sacred rituals, commencing at 6 am, including the Mangal Arati, Mailum, Tadap Lagi, Abakash, Surya Puja, and Rosa Homa. The deities will then be dressed in new attire, followed by the offering of Gopal Bhog and Sakal Dhupa.
As the sun sets, three teams of skilled dressers will meticulously adorn the deities with intricate gold ornaments, a process that will unfold over the next hour. As one of India’s most revered and affluent deities, Lord Jagannath and his siblings will majestically sit atop their ornate chariots – Nandighos, Taladhwaja, and Debadalana – stationed at the temple’s historic Singhdwar entrance.
This spectacular ceremony is expected to draw over 10 lakh devotees to the Grand Road, who will gather to behold the divine splendor of Suna Besha until 11 pm. The air will be filled with devotion, music, and the scent of incense, as the temple comes alive with the joy and fervor of this ancient and sacred tradition.