What to Expect During the Grand 'Suna Besha' Celebration in Puri This Weekend

Puri Prepares for a Massive Influx of Devotees

Puri: Authorities in Odisha have issued a warning regarding the expected surge of pilgrims visiting Puri this Sunday for the 'Suna Besha' (golden attire) ceremony of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

The police have shared details about their strategies for managing crowds and controlling traffic, urging visitors to plan their trips accordingly.

In a message posted on X, the Odisha Police stated, “Suna Besha Yatra Alert, 7 AM. Due to the influx of devotees arriving overnight for darshan of Mahaprabhu, parking facilities in the city are nearly full. Vehicles are being redirected to Talabania and Sterling based on parking availability. Expect longer wait times at Batagaon/Malatipatpur.”

Devotees are encouraged to keep this information in mind and plan their visits accordingly.

A steady stream of pilgrims has been arriving in Puri since Saturday night, as the deities remained on their chariots for public viewing, according to a senior official.

The official noted, “There was no ‘Pahuda’ (resting period) for the deities Saturday night, allowing devotees to see them on the chariots, resulting in a significant crowd.”

Morning rituals were conducted by servitors on Sunday, with Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath seated on their respective chariots.

The three chariots—'Taladwaj', 'Darpadalan', and 'Nandighosh'—are stationed in front of the 'Singha Dwar' (Lion's Gate) of the ancient temple following the completion of the deities' nine-day annual journey.

The 'Bahuda' Yatra proceeded smoothly on Saturday, thanks to heightened security and the cooperation of servitors, with the administration actively managing the crowd for the 'Suna Besha' rituals, as noted by an SJTA official.

In light of a recent tragic incident where three devotees lost their lives in a stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple on June 29, police have intensified security and crowd control measures for the 'Suna Besha' rituals.

Arabinda Padhee, the chief administrator of SJTA, has called on all involved parties to work together for the successful execution of Lord Jagannath's 'Suna Besha' rituals.

According to the SJTA timetable, devotees can observe the rituals from 6:30 PM to 11 PM on Sunday.