By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: the rare Nagarjuna Besha of Lord Jagannath and His divine siblings was held at the Shreemandir here with the deities taking the form of Naga warriors after a gap of 26 years.
As per the ritual, the deities were dressed with golden attires and adorned with 16 types of traditional weapons, including Trishul (trident), Hala (plough), Chakra (wheel), Musala (mace), arrows and bows along with decorative helmets.For the first time, the grand ritual, which falls once in several years, was observed in the absence of devotees due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As per the schedule, the Dwara Phita ritual was held at 2:45 am followed by Bhitara Sodha, Mangala Alati, Mailam, Tadapalagi, Naga Besha and Abakasha Niti. All the rituals were completed by 4:30 am.
However, the Nagarjuna Besha ritual, which was scheduled to begin at 4:45 am, was delayed and began at 7 am due to a dispute between Bhandar Mekap, Khuntia and Singhari servitors. Notably, the Nagarjuna Besha of the Lords was last observed in November 1994. The ritual commemorates the killing of Sahashrajuna by Lord Parsuram. The Besha also marks the battle between Arjuna and his son Nagarjuna. It is observed in the year when Panchuka (the last five days of the Holy month of Kartik) is observed for six days.
“ଶ୍ରୀଜୀଉଙ୍କ ନାଗାର୍ଜୁନ ବେଶ ଧାରଣ ଅବସରରେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଏହି ଅଲୌକିକ ଯୋଦ୍ଧାବେଶ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଅସୀମ ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ଶକ୍ତି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରୁ। ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଓ ସର୍ବାଙ୍ଗୀନ ଉନ୍ନତି କାମନା କରୁଛି। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ।,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted @Naveen_Odisha.
