PURI: LAKHS of devotees arrived in the Pilgrim City on Friday to witness the Suna Besha (golden attire) of The Holy Trinity atop their chariots in front of Simhadwara.
As scheduled, a special set of servitors brought huge gold ornaments and jewellery from the temple treasury to the chariots amid tight security. Three sets of dressers took about two hours to dress Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra simultaneously on the three chariots. Gold ornaments of various types and styles, weighing about 100 kg, were used to deck the deities. The ornaments included giant limbs like feet, hands and insignia like mace, lotus, wheel and conch. The huge gold tiaras besides a number of special necklaces and garlands presented a spectacular look. The deities too donned big kundalas (earrings) besides chest guards, all made of gold. The ‘darshan’ of this special ‘besha’ continued till 11 pm. The administration put in place a three-layered security around the three chariots.
District Magistrate Arabind Agarwal, SP Sarthak Sarangi, IGP RP Koche and temple chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra oversaw the arrangements.
While ‘Suna Besha’ is observed five times a year, this is the sole occasion when the devotees get to have a glimpse of the Gods in gold.
The 1978 inventory of the Lords’ wealth in the form of the ornaments revealed that there were 367 items of gold ornaments weighing four quintals and 251 items of silver ornaments weighing 14 quintals. Besides, there were ornaments studded with jewels like diamond, emerald, ruby and other precious stones of rare quality and size. Sources said out of the total seven vaults of the temple treasury, only one was opened. The deities would spend two more nights on the chariots. On Saturday night, they would be offered Adharpana __ a special drink.
On the following day, Lord Jagannath will present ‘rasagollas’ to consort Mahalaxmi, who is peeved as she was left out of the nine-day sojourn, to appease her and open the door. Late in the night, the Lords would be escorted into the ‘Ratnasimhasan’ of the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple in ceremonial ‘pahandi’.