Bhubaneswar, 25 July (H.S.) : The sacred town of Puri is set to witness one of the most magnificent rituals of the annual Rath Yatra as Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Mahaprabhu Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan will appear in the revered Suna Besha (Golden Attire) on Saturday. The deities, seated on their respective chariots, will be adorned with exquisite gold ornaments before their return to the sanctum of the Shree Jagannath Temple.

Considered among the most significant and visually resplendent rituals of the festival, Suna Besha attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country who gather for a glimpse of the deities in their royal form. During this ritual, the deities are decorated from head to toe with intricately designed gold ornaments, symbolising divine grandeur and majesty.

The adornments include traditional ornaments such as Kirita (crown), Kundala (earrings), Ghagada Mali, Bahada Mali, Harida Mali, Kadamba Mali, Baghanakhi Mali, Sebati Mali, along with sacred symbols like Hala Mushala (plough and mace), Chakra, and Tilak. The elaborate decoration transforms the deities into a breathtaking divine spectacle for devotees.

As per the scheduled rituals, the Suna Besha will begin at 5 PM and continue until 11 PM, followed by the Mailam ritual during which the ornaments will be ceremonially removed. However, officials indicated that if earlier rituals conclude ahead of time, devotees may get an opportunity for darshan from the afternoon itself.

To manage the anticipated surge in crowd and ensure a smooth darshan experience, the district administration has implemented extensive arrangements. Barricades have been set up from Market Chhak along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to regulate the flow of devotees. As per the arrangement , devotees will enter through the left side of the road, offer prayers before the chariots, and exit from the right side after completing their darshan.

Authorities have urged devotees to adhere to the designated routes and cooperate with security personnel to ensure safety and avoid inconvenience during the grand occasion. The administration remains on high alert to facilitate a peaceful and orderly conduct of one of the most awaited highlights of the Rath Yatra celebrations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda