Amid heavy security, the idols of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were today adorned with tons of gold ornaments, while lakhs of devotees witnessed the ritual here.
Amid heavy security, the idols of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath were today adorned with tons of gold ornaments, while lakhs of devotees witnessed the ritual here.
Suna Vesha is an annual ritual held to mark the end of Ratha Yatra. Seated in their respective chariots parked outside the 12th century shrine, the Lords take golden attire in the evening on the 11th day of the fortnight of Asadha, said Pandit Ranajt Kumar Kar, a researcher in Jagannath culture.
The deities are decorated with at least 138 types of gold ornaments from head to toe, he said.
Today the deities were adorned with gold jewellery weighing about 208 kg, temple officials said adding, some times the quantity of gold used in the annual ritual change.
The hands, arms and crowns of the idols are made of solid gold. Lord Jagannath holds a golden 'chakra' (wheel) in his right hand and silver 'sankha' (conch) in his left hand.
Balabhadra holds a golden 'hala' (plough) in his left hand and a golden 'gada' (mace) in his right hand, said Rabinarayan Mishra, a former administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration.
Kar said the deities take golden attire five times in a year. While four such events take place inside the temple, one Suna Vesha is organised while the they are on the chariots.
"This one is for those who cannot see the trinity in this adornment inside the temple," said the 'Badagrahi' of Goddess Subhadra, Ramchandra Dasmohapatra.
According to temple records, Suna Vesha was first organised here during the reign of King Kapilendra Deb in 1460. The king earned the gold after defeating other kingdoms and deposited them at the temple.
"The police has made all required arrangements for the security of devotees as well as the deities. The security personnel are on high alert," said IG Soumendra Priyadarshi.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}