Puri, July 6: The sacred city of Puri shimmered in divine brilliance today as Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra appeared in their majestic Suna Besha — adorned with 208 kg of gold ornaments atop their chariots in front of the Singhadwar of the Shree Mandir.

Held annually on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi, this rare ritual is one of the most spiritually significant moments of the Rath Yatra, drawing lakhs of devotees from across India and beyond.

The deities were decorated with nearly 30 varieties of gold, silver, and gem-studded ornaments, including golden crowns (Sri Mukuta), hands (Suna Hasta), feet (Suna Payar), and symbolic weapons like the golden Chakra and silver conch.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) scheduled darshan from 6:30 PM to 11 PM, with devotees viewing the spectacle from behind barricades. Odisha Police deployed drones and AI-powered surveillance to manage the estimated 15 lakh pilgrims, following enhanced safety protocols after recent crowd incidents.

The atmosphere on Puri’s Grand Road was electric with chants of “Jai Jagannath,” as the Lords dazzled under the evening sky, offering a moment of transcendence to all who gathered.

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