Once-A-Year Padma Besha Of Lord Jagannath Today, Devotees Delighted For Darshan

A day after Puri Shree Jagannath Temple reopened for public darshan following three weeks of COVID third wave hiatus, the shrine continues to brim with devotees before the rare Padma Besha of the Holy Trinity.

Padma Besha, one of the iconic attire rituals of the deities of Lord Balabhadra, Jagannath and Devi Subhadra is held once every year either on Saturday of Wednesday between the New Moon day of Magha month and the Basant Panchami.

As per long-followed tradition, the deities spend their bedtime (pahuda) every day with Bada Singhar outfits. However, Padma Besha niti is the only occasion when the deities are bedecked with a different attire which resembles much like lotus flower and hence the name Padma Besha.

Devotees get to take darshan of the beautiful avatar of the Lords on the following day. 

The Bada Chhata Mutt provides all necessary materials for the preparation of the attire which takes place over a period of more than a month. 

The entire decoration of Padma Besha is done by skilled artists. As many as 80 small lotus flowers, bud of lotus are crafted with thermocol, silver, golden threads, plants, cotton cloth, gum of wood apple and colours are used in the decoration. 

As per belief, the Padma Besha marks the onset of the Spring season.