The Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri is observing the sacred Pausha Purnima on Saturday with the performance of the Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, a significant ritual in the annual temple calendar.
On this auspicious day, the Pushyabhisheka ritual of Lord Jagannath is conducted as per established temple traditions. As part of the ceremony, 108 pots of water mixed with ghee—kept in the Adhibasa Griha since Friday—are sanctified with sandalwood paste and used for the Abhisheka of the deity. Following the ritual bath, the regular sequence of temple rituals continues under the supervision of the servitors.
After receiving the Agyanmala from Lord Jagannath, Maa Lakshmi proceeds in the Sridevi palanquin to the Jagamohan, where rituals such as Majana and Banaka Lagi are performed. Upon completion of these rites, Sridevi is adorned in Suna Besha, forming an important part of the day’s observances.
Later in the day, Lord Jagannath adorns the Suna Besha on the Ratna Singhasan after the completion of the Sakala Dhupa rituals. The Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath is observed five times a year—four times on the Ratna Singhasan and once on the chariot during Hari Sayana Ekadashi.
During the Suna Besha, the deity is adorned with gold ornaments including the Kirita (crown), Sripayara, Sribhuja, Harida Mala, Bahada Mala and other traditional gold embellishments, allowing devotees to have a divine darshan steeped in age-old customs and spiritual significance.