Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra in the pilgrim town of Puri on Saturday on the auspicious occasion of ‘Suna Besha’ (Golden Attire).
During the grand ritual, the sibling deities – seated on their majestic chariots parked directly in front of the Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate) – were adorned in heavy gold jewellery, a divine form formally known as the ‘Rajrajeshwar Vesh.’
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Majhi reflected on the deep cultural resonance of the event, describing the ritual as a celebration of Odisha’s enduring heritage.
“On the chariot is the divine ‘Rajrajeshwar Vesh’ or ‘Golden Vesh’ of Shri Jiu. The ‘Rajrajeshwar Vesh’ is not merely a religious tradition; it is a symbol of the pride and glorious history of the Odia people,” the Chief Minister stated.
Recounting the historical significance of the tradition, Majhi invoked the legacy of the 15th-century Suryavanshi ruler, Gajapati Kapilendra Dev.
“After conquering the kingdom, Gajapati Kapilendra Dev, upon his return, offered all the heaps of gold he had brought at the holy feet of Mahaprabhu. The tradition that began of adorning Shri Jiu with jewellery crafted from that gold continues to this day to enliven the rich history, culture, invincible pride, and glorious heritage of the Odia people,” he added.
Concluding his message with a prayer for the people of the state, Majhi added: “May the boundless grace and blessings of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath fill every Odia’s life with happiness, prosperity, and peace. Jai Jagannath!”
‘Suna Besha’ one of the most significant rituals of the annual Rath Yatra festival, drawing lakhs of pilgrims to Bada Danda to behold the deities bedecked in gold.
What makes this ritual unique is that it takes place outside the temple while the deities remain aboard their chariots before making their final return to the sanctum sanctorum.
The deities were adorned with solid gold crowns, hands, and weapons: Lord Jagannath wields a solid gold chakra (disc) in his right hand and a silver sankha (conch) in his left, while Lord Balabhadra holds a gold hala (plough) in his left hand and a golden gada (mace) in his right.
As one of India’s biggest and most revered religious festivals, the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrated every year. During the festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, is taken in grand chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees gather to pull the towering chariots, believing it brings divine blessings and spiritual merit.
This year’s Rath Yatra – the 149th Rath Yatra – began on July 16, and the nine-day festival concluded with the Bahuda Yatra on July 24. The deities are scheduled to ceremonially re-enter the Jagannath Temple on July 27.
