Bhubaneswar: The worshipers will once again seize watch from close range, reasons of Lords Jagannath, Baabhadra and Dewi Subhadra in Suna Besha (dressed in gold jewelry) in Puri, on Wednesday.
Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the district government has decided to impose curfew in the city of pilgrims to prevent public meetings when the gods appear in all their glory.
According to tradition, the Trinity returned from Gundicha temple or Maa Maa (their birthplace) which marked YaTra on Tuesday, would wear a large number of gold ornaments on their trains the following day.
Suna Besha is the main ritual of Rath Yatra, which began last week on July 12.
Jagannath Suna Besha Temple witness on four other occasions in a year – Dusshera, Kartika Purnima, Dola Purnima.
While the ritual was observed in the temple at another time, during the budding Yatra Suna Besha ritual was carried out on the train outside the temple.
“Legend has it that Besha Suna was introduced during the era of King Kapilendra Deb in 1460.
He had conquered another king and looted large amounts of gold from him, which he brought back to the castle on 16 elephants.
He has contributed all gold to Jagannath Temple,” said A temple official.
The police have increased security to protect gold.
“We have made adequate security settings for Suna Besha which is smooth on Wednesday.
We asked the worshipers to stay in their homes and watch Suna Besha lives on a TV screen or their cellphone,” said Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Temple administration, citing inventory 1978, said almost 128 kg of gold ornaments and 221kg silver equipment was present at the Bhandar Temple (Treasury), which had inside and outside space.
However, there is no assessment of temple jewelry listed has been made so far.
Jagannath Temple has so far received around 21 kg of gold, including 280kg jewelry and silver from other worshipers and donors.
A few days ago, a worshiper donated almost 4.9kg of gold ornaments worth more than Rs 2.3 Crore to the Temple of Puri Jagannath, which is the largest gold donation by a man on a certain day to the temple in the past two decades.