Spectacular 'Suna Besha' Ritual Draws 1.5 Million Devotees to Puri

Approximately 1.5 million devotees gathered in Puri to witness the 'Suna Besha' ritual, where the idol of Lord Jagannath and his siblings were adorned with gold ornaments. This tradition, dating back to the 15th century, was marked by extensive security measures and special railway services to accommodate the influx of visitors.

Approximately 1.5 million devotees gathered on Wednesday to witness Lord Jagannath's 'Suna Besha' ritual in Puri, where the idol was adorned with gold ornaments embedded with precious stones, officials confirmed.

The idols of Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra were also decorated with golden jewelry atop their chariots in front of the temple's 'Singha Dwar' (Lion's Gate). This tradition sees the deities embellished with nearly 208 kg of gold jewelry, a practice that dates back to the 15th century.

The event was tightly secured, with around 5,700 police personnel deployed in Puri and 46 special trains operated by the East Coast Railways to facilitate the smooth arrival of devotees.

(With inputs from agencies.)