PURI: Over two million devotees thronged Puri to witness the Suna Besha of the Trinity atop their respective chariots on Sunday.
The process for Suna Besha ritual began at 4 pm. Under tight security, the Mekapa servitors retrieved three sets of ornaments from a temporary strong room relocated from the Bahar Ratna Bhandar, and handed those over to the dressers on the chariots, which were placed under a five-tier security cordon.
The Trinity was adorned with a stunning array of ornaments, including giant gold limbs, ceremonial insignias like mace, lotus, chakra, conch, sun and moon, and a golden plough. They also wore large golden tiaras, ornate necklaces, earrings, chest guards, among others. The Suna Besha ritual was completed at 6 pm.
Devotees, who had been arriving since Saturday, continued to pour in throughout the day, moving through long barricaded paths along Badadanda to witness the golden attire of the deities, and exiting through a regulated flow.
Earlier in the day, the servitors performed the daily rituals on the chariots, starting with Mangal Arati, Tadap Lagi, Mailum, Abakash, Surya Puja, Rosa Homa, and Gopal Bhog, followed by Madhyahna Dhupa at 1.50 pm. The deities were then dressed in the sacred Khandua cloth before the Suna Besha.
On Monday night, the unique ritual of offering Adhara Pana to the deities will be conducted. Niladri Bije, the concluding ceremony of the Rath Yatra, will take place on Tuesday with the offering of Rasagola Bhoga to the deities.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and DGP Manoj Ahuja are currently stationed in Puri to coordinate with the servitors and ensure timely observance of rituals.
Puri collector Chanchal Rana, SP Pinak Mishra, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee, and other senior officials are overseeing the arrangements.
Meanwhile, internal city roads, especially those connecting the railway station and parking zones to Badadanda, witnessed traffic congestions on the day. Devotees, including elderly and children, were left stranded for hours amid heavy rains.