Haute Couture! Siblings Step Out In Style

Haute Couture! Siblings Step Out In Style

When it comes to making a style statement, the sibling deities in Puri lord it over all, literally. The three idols are attired in various traditional attires or beshas, each in line with a particular ritual. Besides, jewel-studded ornaments and glittering gold adorn the deities,leaving devotees mesmerised. Of these ritualistic beshas, three — Naba Jaubana Besha, Pahandi Bije and Tahiya Lagi, and Suna Besha — are particularly significant. There are other beshas also with their unique traditions, colours and days.Naba Jaubana Besha

This ritual is observed a day before Rath Yatra. The three deities once again appear before the devotees, freshly cured from fever following the ceremonial bath of Snana Purnima.In keeping with tradition, the by now ‘recovered’ siblings are dressed in beautiful silken clothes and adorned with stone-studded gold ornaments.The dresses and decorations give the deities a new, youthful look and hence the name Naba Jaubana Besha.Notwithstanding the ritual’s romanticism, reality is mundane.Fact is that the ceremonial bath smears the colours of the idols and they need repainting. At the time of anasara,daitasand other servitors paint the idols with traditional colours and brushes. Only the eyes of the deities remain unpainted, and the important ritual is performed during Netrotsav.

Pahandi Bije and Tahiya LagiTahiyas are the floral crowns worn by the sibling deities during Pahandi Bije. These crowns are over 6 feet in height and shaped like a beetle leaf. The intricately carved headgears are made from bamboo sticks, flowers such as Champa,Rangani, Mali, Malati,Jui, etc., Tulsi leaves, Duba, Sola(thermocol) and Jari (glittering laces). Kadali Patuka (banana stems) and KaithaAthaa (gum) join the pieces together. Apart from real flowers, those made of thermocol are also used for the decorations. The rhythmic swaying of the Tahiyasmesmerises the gathered devotees, filling their hearts with devotion. They try to snatch away pieces of the Tahiya as souvenirs. During Pahandi and Rath Yatra, the deities wear only floral ornaments, garlands and Tahiyas. Traditionally, the Raghav Das Matha of Puri supplies the Tahiyas.

Suna Besha

Renowned for its grandiosity and splendour,Suna Besha is also known as Rajadhi-Raj Besha,Raja-Rajeswar Besha, Bada-Tadhau Besha or simply Raja Besha. In keeping with the name SunaBesha(golden attire), the deities wear intricategolden diadems, heavy golden necklaces, and even hands and feet are adorned with gold. The weapons carried by each deity are also made of solid gold. Lord Jagannath carries his favourite Chakra (discus) and Sankha (conch), Lord Balabhadra is armed with the Gadaa and Hala (mace and plough) and Goddess Subhadra holds a golden lotus. The deities wear various necklaces like Padma Mali, Harida Mali, Kadamba Mali, Sebati Mali, Champa Mali, and hanging earrings called Kundala, Chulapati, Rahu-Rekha and Sri-Chitas.

Historian and retired professor Dr Kulamani Bariki recounts, “Kapilendra Deva, the first king of the Surya dynasty of Odisha,had brought home hoards of gold after his conquest of south India in 1460. In order to strengthen his position as a king, he donated a lion’s share of the plunder to the Jagannath temple,the spiritual centre of his kingdom. Kapilendra Deva ordered the priests to make suitable ornaments for the deities. This was the first time that the Suna Besharitual was performed.” The deities are decked in Suna Besha on five occasions each year —Vijaya Dashami(Dussehra) Kartika Purnima, Dola Purnima, Pausha Purnima (Pushyabhisheka) and Ashadha Shukla Ekadhasi. During the last one, the besha ritual is performed while the deities are still present on their respective chariots. Devotees from world over get to see this amazing sight and feel blessed because “Rathetu Bamanam Drustwa Punarjanma Na Bidyte” (One who sees the Lord sitting on his chariot, escapes the cycle of re-birth).

Other Attires

Apart from these festive attires, the deities wear different dresses every day. They change their garments at least five times a day, wearing colours that vary according to the planetary positions and the days of the week.

Gateswar Dash, Sanskrit teacher and researcher of Jagannath cult,informs, “On Sunday, they wear red clothes, as the Sun God is the master of the day and his favorite colour is red. Similarly, it is a black-dotted, whitish cloth on Monday and clothes of five different colours on Tuesday. It is called Pancharangi. They prefer sky blue on Wednesday and wear yellow on Thursday to honour Brihaspati (Jupiter, the teacher of all gods). They are dressed in white on Friday and violet on Saturday. These everyday clothes are made of silk and collectively called Sadha Besha.”Every night before the last ritual (Ratri Pahuda), the trio wearspecial clothes embroidered with Gita-Gobinda verses called Khandua Pata. They are decked with delicate floral ornaments and smeared with sandalwood paste to ensure peace, relaxation and a good night’s sleep.