Jagannath Temple authorities to craft new gold ornaments for Suna Besha

The Jagannath Temple Managing Committee in Puri, Odisha, has approved a proposal to craft a new set of gold ornaments for the ‘Suna Besha’ ritual. These ornaments will be used for Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee stated that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will fund the project using its own resources, though they will also accept donations from individuals and organizations.

To ensure accuracy in design and weight, authorities will utilize inventory data recently collected from the Ratna Bhandar temple treasury. A technical committee will be formed to oversee the process and select skilled jewellers. The Suna Besha ritual, where deities are adorned in golden attire, is performed five times a year.

In related developments, the Sri Gundicha Temple is scheduled to reopen to the public on September 30, with free entry for the first three days. The administration is also working to improve pilgrim infrastructure, including a new queue darshan system based on a model from IIT Bhubaneswar and improved accessibility for differently-abled devotees. Additionally, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sevayat Gurukul project is set for November.