COSTUMES OF LORD JAGANNATH

This is done daily, after mangala arati, for the abakash rituals. Abakasha means the brushing of teeth and bathing rituals of the deities. The clothes that are worn by the deities are called 'Tadapa' and 'Uttariya.'

This is a very beautiful vesha. It is done before the night time 'pahuda', when the deities are allowed to take rest. It is therefore the vesha the deities appear in the following morning, for mangala arati. This vesha is mostly made of different kinds of flowers. The Lords are decorated with flowered ornaments known locally in Puri as adhara, jhumpa, gava, chandrika, tilak, alaka, guna, hruda pallava, karapallava and tadaki among others. The Deities also wear many flower garlands, some with tulasi leaves, and silk clothes called khandua.

The word ‘Chandana’ means sandal wood. Sandal wood paste has been applied on the divine body of the deities during the summer (in the month of Baishakha and Jyeshtha), spreading over 42 days during Chandana Yatra starting from Akshaya Trutiya Tithi (third day of bright fortnight of Baishakha).

On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha, after the Snana Purnima (annual bathing ceremony) is over, the Deities are dressed like Gajanana which is locally known as Hati Vesha. Gajanana or Hati Besha is done on the occasion of Snana Yatra. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are made to look like Ganapati (Ganesh, the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati).

On the 11th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashada, when the Deities return from the Gundicha Mandir on their chariots, they appear in the Suna (Gold) Vesha. They are are decorated with golden ornaments and wear gold crowns. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhada appear with hands and feet made of gold. Lord Jagannath holds a golden chakra in His right hand and a silver conch shell in His left. Lord Balabhadra holds a golden club in His right hand and a golden plough in His left hand.

On the 10th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadraba, the Deities are dressed for picnic, like the cowherd boys. In ancient time it is narrated in the Krishna lila that Lord Krishna with his elder brother Balaram and group of cowherd boys had gone to the forest for picnic.

As per the Puranic lores, Lord Krishna killed serpent Kaliya (Black Cobra).To remind this incident this vesha takes place on Bhadraba Krushna Ekadasi Tithi (the 11th day of the dark fortnight in Bhadraba). Lord Shree Jagannath is dressed like Lord Krishna killing the Kaliya serpent.

This vesha is celebrated on the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadraba. This vesha is a memorial to the Killing of Demon Pralamba by Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, So Lord Balabhadra wears this vesha.

On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadraba (Bhadraba Krushna trayodasi tithi), Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed very attractively as Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama. In this vesha Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are decorated with two extra hands and Goddess Subhadra is decorated with extra four hands.

On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadraba (Bhadraba Sukla Dwadasi Tithi), Lord Jagannath is dressed like Vamana (dwarf brahmin). Vamana is the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who defeated Bali by pushing him to Patal (beneath the earth) with his foot.

The Deities are dressed in this vesha from the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina to the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. In this vesha Lord Jagannath is decorated as Damodar (Lord Krishna) and it is related to Lord Krishna and His Consort Goddess Radha. The Deities put on ornaments made up of flowers and different types of clothes.

This vesha is done on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. This Vesha is also known as Thiakia Vesha. Lord Jagannath is dressed as Lord Visnu with sankha (conch shell) made of silver and sudarshan chakra (wheel) made of gold and Lord Balavadra with plough and shovel. The deities are also decorated with different gold ornaments and golden crowns on their heads charming with Thiakias.

This vesha is done on Kartika Sukla Dwadasi Tithi (the 12th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika). When Shri Akrur Ji (chief of the Yadavas and a great devotee of Lord Krishna) came to Brindavan from Mathura to invite Lord Krishna and Balaram by the order of king Kansa to view a ceremony known as 'worshipping the bow', at that time Lord Krishna was decorated with Banka Chuda vesha. This vesha is observed as the memory of this occasion. In this vesha Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra decorated with banka chuda on the left side of their heads.

This vesha is done on Kartika Sukla Trayodasi (the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika). The headgear of Lord Jagannath & Lord Balabhadra is decorated with 'Kia' flower. This vesha is also known as Tribikram vesha to represent that Lord Jagannath is the master of three spheres of the universe (Heaven, Hell and Earth).

This Vesha is done on Kartika Sukla Chaturdasi tithi (the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika). This is also known as 'Lakshmi Nrushingha Vesha'. The Deities are decorated with gorgeous gold ornaments.

This Vesha takes place on Kartika Purnima Tithi (fullmoon day of Kartika month). This vhesha is identical to the Suna Vesha observed on the Chariots, during the annual Car Festival, in front of Lions gate of Jagannath Temple. Thousands of devotees go to Jagannath Temple on this day to have a darshan of this beautiful vesha and to get the blessing of Lord Jagannath.

From the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna to the 14th day (5 days) the deities are decorated with Chacheri vesha. Special quality of cloths namely Bairani and Madhabali etc. are offered to Deities. In this vesha the Deities are wearing red clothes and red flowers.

The last five days of the holy month of Kartika is considered highly auspicious and is known as ‘Panchuka’ in Odia language. Nagarjuna vesha is observed during the Kartika month occasionally when ‘Panchuka’ observed as six days instead of five days. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will appear in Nagarjuna Besha on this extra day (sixth day of Panchuka). In Nagarjuna Besha, the lords are dressed like warriors.

Ghodalagi means specially designed winter dresses for the deities. During the period from the 6th day of the bright fortnight of Margasira (Odhan Sasthi) to the 5th day of the bright fortnight of Magha (Basanta Panchami) the Deities wear winter clothes.

Any Saturday or Wednesday between the new moon day of the month of Magha and Basanta Panchami is chosen for the Padma Besha. It is made during the ‘Bada Singhara’ ritual at night and the deities remain with the Besha throughout the night. The big petals of lotus adorn the faces of the deities in the shape of a disc. Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannatha hold lotus buds in their hands. Three triangular crowns made up of lace (crepe) and cloth are decorated with innumerable lotus flowers.

The famous Gaja Uddharana vesha is done on Magha Purnima tithi (the fullmoon day of Magha). 'Gaja' means 'Elephant' and 'Uddharana' means 'Rescue'. This vesha depicts an epic story as to how Lord Vishnu saved a helpless elephant from the clutches of a crocodile.

This Besha was worn on the ninth day of bright fortnight of Chaitra. In this Besha Lord Jagannath is dressed like Lord Rama, Lord Balabhadra as Lord Laxman and Goddess Subhadra as Goddess Sita. To the left side of Lord Rama, his two brothers Bharat and Satrughan are standing holding umbrella in their hands. Hanuman sits with folded hand along with his army like Sugreeva, Jambavana, Nala, Nila, and Angada. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra holds bow and arrow in their hands.

'Jama' means 'Shirt'. From the 5th bright day of Magha (Basanta Panchami) to the 10th bright day of Phalguna (Dola Purnima) when winter goes down the Deities wear Jama (shirt). All the Jamas(shirts) are made of silk colour cloth.

Sraddha is a rite observed for the departed souls (parents and fore fathers). In the month of Margasira, Shree Jagannath performs the Sraddha in favour of his fathers Nanda (foster father), Basudeva (Father) in 'Dwapara Yuga' and Dasaratha in 'Tretaya Yuga'. Lord Jagannath also offers Sraddha to King Indradyumna who built the Jagannath temple as per the legend and Queen Gundicha. The deities wear white clothes with small yellow borders on this occasion.