Bhubaneswar: An estimated lakh-plus devotees gathered in the sacred coastal town of Puri on Sunday to witness the divine spectacle of ‘Suna Besha’ — the ritual in which the Holy Siblings, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, are adorned with elaborate gold ornaments weighing approximately 208 kilograms.
The rare and sacred ritual, performed atop the majestic chariots during the annual Rath Yatra, drew massive crowds. Devotees eagerly caught glimpses of the glittering deities, magnificently decorated with golden hands, feet, crowns, garlands made of gold beads, a golden chakra (discus), a silver conch, gold ploughshare, and a pestle.
The overwhelming turnout of pilgrims led to severe traffic congestion in and around Puri. Earlier in the day, the Odisha Police had issued an advisory warning that all designated parking spaces in the city had reached full capacity. Pilgrims were directed to halt temporarily at Batgaon and Maltipatpur to ease traffic flow.
“Extremely heavy Vehicle inflow from Bhubaneswar towards Puri at present. Present waiting time at Batgaon is around 2 hours. All devotees are requested to plan their visit accordingly,” said Odisha Police.
Extremely heavy Vehicle inflow from Bhubaneswar towards Puri at present. Present waiting time at Batgaon is around 2 hours. All devotees are requested to plan their visit accordingly.#OdishaPolice #TrafficUpdate #RathaYatra2025 #PuriDarshan #DevoteeSafety #BhubaneswarToPuri pic.twitter.com/ADAv48RgAg
— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) July 6, 2025
The police further appealed to devotees to adhere to traffic guidelines and cooperate with law enforcement officials deployed across key points.
According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), devotees were permitted to have darshan of the deities from 6:30 pm to 11 pm on Sunday. The spiritual fervour, combined with the grandeur of the deities’ golden attire, created an electrifying atmosphere along the Grand Road (Bada Danda).
The tradition of Suna Besha—also referred to as Rajarajeswar Besha or Bada Tadhau Besha—dates back to 1460 CE, during the reign of Gajapati King Kapilendra Deva. Historical records indicate that following his victorious campaign against southern Indian rulers, the king donated cartloads of gold, diamonds, and other precious ornaments to the Jagannath Temple. The ritual was institutionalized at the request of a prominent temple servitor, Tadhau Karana.
As the city of Puri continues to resonate with devotional chants and the rhythm of traditional instruments, the spectacle of Suna Besha remains one of the most awe-inspiring highlights of the Rath Yatra festivities, drawing pilgrims and tourists alike from across the country and beyond.
