Puri: Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra is slated to be held today amidst the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Puri district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in view of the Bahuda Yatra from 8 PM of July 19 to 8 PM of July 21.
However on Tuesday, the curfew was lifted from Puri Municipality area except Market Chhak to Kakudi Khai Chhak, other lanes and by Lanes and adjoining area of Shri Mandir.
Suna Besha is also known as Rajadhiraja besha, Raja Besha and Rajarajeshwara Besha. This is a festival when the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are adorned with gold jewelry.
It is observed on the day after the return of the Deities from Gundicha Temple, on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi Tithi. Out of the 32 Beshas or forms of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, Suna Besha is one of the most looked upon by the devotees.
Suna Besha is observed five times during a year. While one is observed on Bahuda Ekadashi during the Rath Yatra on the chariots placed at the lion’s gate also called Singhadwara, the other four Suna Beshas are observed inside the temple on the Ratna Singhasana.
It is believed that Suna Besha ritual began during the reign of King Kapilendra Deb in 1460 when he brought gold on 16 elephants to Puri after a winning a battle with another king and donated them to Jagannath Temple.
Ms Kalinga