A massive influx of devotees gathered in Puri on Sunday to witness the grand ‘Suna Besha’—the golden attire ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. As the temple city overflowed with pilgrims, Odisha Police issued a special public alert and implemented strict traffic and crowd control measures.
According to police updates shared via X (formerly Twitter), devotees began arriving in large numbers since Saturday night, resulting in most city parking zones reaching full capacity. Vehicles are now being redirected to alternate sites like Talabania and Sterling, with potential delays reported near Batagaon and Maltipatpur. Authorities have urged visitors to plan accordingly.
The surge of devotion extended overnight as Lord Jagannath and his siblings remained on their chariots with no ‘pahuda’ (rest ritual) performed, allowing uninterrupted darshan throughout the night. A temple official confirmed this unique opportunity drew even more crowds.
Sunday’s ‘Suna Besha’ rituals began early morning, with sevayats adorning the deities in elaborate gold ornaments while they remained seated on their respective chariots—Taladhwaj (Balabhadra), Darpadalan (Subhadra), and Nandighosh (Jagannath)—parked outside the temple’s Singha Dwara (Lion Gate).
Following the successful conclusion of the return Bahuda Yatra on Saturday, heightened security remains in place, especially after the tragic June 29 stampede near Gundicha Temple that claimed three lives and injured over 50 people. Officials from the Jagannath Temple Administration confirmed coordinated efforts with police to manage the massive crowd during Suna Besha.
