Thousands of devotees gathered in Odisha’s Kendujhar on Saturday to witness the grand Suna Besha of Lord Sri Sri Baladevjew, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath on the famous Kendujhar Rath, known as the world’s tallest chariot. Despite continuous rain and cloudy weather, the festive spirit remained high as devotees queued for hours to seek the blessings of the deities.
During the sacred ritual, the three deities were adorned with nearly 16 kg of gold ornaments and 60 kg of silver ornaments, making the celebration one of the most unique traditions of Rath Yatra in Odisha.
At around noon, the ornaments were brought from the government treasury and an SBI locker under strict security. The transfer took place in the presence of the Sub-Collector and Executive Magistrate before the traditional adornment ceremony began.
Public darshan started at 3 pm and continued until 10 pm, attracting pilgrims from Kendujhar and nearby districts. To ensure a safe and smooth celebration, the district administration deployed 12 platoons of police personnel along with senior officers for security and crowd management.
The historic Sri Sri Baladevjew Temple, built in the 16th century by King Laxmi Narayan Bhanjadeo, continues to preserve this centuries-old tradition and remains a major spiritual attraction during Rath Yatra.