New Delhi: Puri’s Grand Road shines as Lord Jagannath on this Sunday, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra with their brothers, will be beautified with more than 208 kg of gold jewelry during the ‘Suna Basha’ ritual on their chariots. Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said that this much -awaited tradition takes place every year during the Rath Yatra and would be open to publicly to see from 6.30 am to 11 pm.The gods will be decorated with about 30 varieties of gold, silver, and gemstones, continuing a heritage, which continues the dates of 1460 CEs when King Kapilendra Deb introduced the ritual after the first time King Kapilendra Deb introduced the treasury’s cartload from his southern victory.Bhaskar Mishra, a famous researcher of Jagannath culture, said, “These jewels are not purely gold. They are prepared using a mixture of gold, silver and precious stones like diamonds.” He said that while 208 kg ornaments are used today, there is no accurate estimate of gold content alone.The rituals known as ‘Bada Tadau Bacha’ among the parliamentians of the temple, the only hearing on the chariots survives. Four other golden dresses are seen inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple during Vijaya Dasami, Kartika Purnima, Dola Purnima and Pus Purnima.According to researcher Asit Mohanty, gold decorations include diadems (‘kiriti’), gold -made organs and symbolic weapons. Lord Jagannath has a gold cycle and a silver conch, Lord Balabhadra takes a gold mace and plow, while Goddess Subhadra is decorated with unique jewelry.The work of decorating the gods is with the servant of the specific temple, including Palia Pushllak, Mohpatras, Datapati, Khantia and Makeup Services. Due to the ongoing repair in ‘Ratna Bhandar’ (temple treasures), temporarily stored jewels will be rescued under tight security and handed over to the servants for rituals.Puri temple, in addition to its gold reserves, according to the State Law Department, Odisha owns more than 60,000 acres of land and about 395 acres in six other states.
