Other States - Orissa

Tight security for Sunabesha fete in Puri

— Photo PTI

Tourists wade through a road, inundated after rain, to watch the Sunabesha of Lord Jagannath in Puri on Friday.

PURI: Unending flow of devotees who came down to witness Sunabesha, a major ritual of the Rathyatra festival, engulfed the two mile long Bada Danda in Puri from Srimandir to Gundicha temple on Friday.

The Sunabesha of the three presiding deities of Puri has special attraction for the devotees. It is held after the return of the deities Lord Jagananth, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to the main temple after the nine-day long Rathyatra to Gundicha temple. This ritualistic fiesta, which is part of the Rathyatra festival is celebrated on Hari Sayan Ekadashi.

The deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were decorated with gold ornaments and jewels on the chariots. According to Jagannath temple administration sources about five quintals of pure gold ornaments and jewellery were used in the special dress up of the deities.

The deities in Puri do not have hands and legs. The idols of Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra appeared with hands and feet made of gold. Lord Jagannath held a golden chakra in his right hand and a silver conch shell in his left. Lord Balabhadra had a golden club in his right hand and a golden plough in his left.

As a crowd of more than 12 lakh devotees was expected to reach the temple city during the evening, the administration and police had made special arrangements for traffic. More than eighty-five platoons of policemen were deployed in Puri along with large number of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel. Personnel of Special Operation Group were also deployed to counter the increasing terrorist threat.

There was a multi-layered security cover around the three chariots. Personnel of the RAF guarded the chariots. There was heavy barricade around to secure the huge treasure and smooth conduct of rituals. The crowd was also monitored by high resolution close circuit cameras installed at strategic locations.

The whole grand road or Bada Danda was kept free vehicles including the two wheelers for smooth flow of devotees. It caused problems for the locals of Puri who had to travel several kilometers to reach their houses.

Monsoon showers during the day made the climate soothing in Puri after the torturing summer heat. But it also brought out the lack of proper sewerage in this temple city.

The vast area near Gundicha temple which was the place of Rathyatra for nine days became a huge swamp. The municipality authorities had failed to clean the area after the Bahuda Jatra. All major traditional drains in the city were clogged and much publicised underground sewerage system of the city was yet to be active.

But the devotees did not seem to be worried about this lack of sanitation and callousness of authorities towards it.

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