Nabajaubana Besha of Holy Trinity Draws Thousands of Devotees to Puri Ahead of Rath Yatra

Puri: The sacred town of Puri was immersed in devotion on Tuesday as thousands of devotees gathered at the Shree Jagannath Temple to witness the much-awaited Nabajaubana Besha, marking the first public appearance of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra after their fortnight-long seclusion during the Anasara period.

The Nabajaubana Besha, also known as Netra Utsav, symbolises the rejuvenation of the sibling deities following their annual ritualistic recuperation. After remaining away from public view for 14 days in the Anasara Ghara, the deities reappear in their youthful and radiant form, heralding the beginning of the Rath Yatra festivities.

In the Jagannath tradition, Besha refers to the divine adornment of the deities. Throughout the day, the Holy Trinity is decorated with silk and cotton garments, fragrant flowers, Tulasi leaves, sandalwood paste, camphor, musk and sacred ornaments. The Nabajaubana Besha holds special significance as it celebrates the renewed youthful appearance of all three deities before they embark on their annual journey to the Gundicha Temple.

A key highlight of the ritual is the Banakalagi or Srikumkha Sringara, during which the deities are repainted using natural herbal colours prepared from traditional ingredients such as Hingula (red), Haritala (yellow), Kasturi (musk), Keshara (saffron) and Kaitha gum. The intricate work is carried out by the temple’s Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors in accordance with the centuries-old Banaka Pothi, an ancient palm-leaf manuscript that prescribes every step of the sacred process.

During the ritual, the facial features of the deities, including the eyes, eyebrows, eyelashes, nose and lips, are meticulously restored. The ceremony culminates with the painting of the eyeballs, signifying the revival of the deities’ divine vision and youthful splendour.

The Nabajaubana Darshan marks the conclusion of the Anasara period and serves as the spiritual prelude to the world-famous Rath Yatra, during which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will travel in their majestic chariots from the Srimandir to the Gundicha Temple.

As the temple doors opened for the auspicious darshan, the atmosphere reverberated with devotional chants and prayers. For countless devotees, witnessing the Nabajaubana Besha is considered one of the most sacred moments in the Jagannath tradition, symbolising renewal, hope and divine blessings before the annual chariot festival.