Lakhs of devotees gathered today in Puri to see Lord Jagannath and His siblings in suna besha.

Seated atop their respective chariots after returning yesterday from their vacation in Gundicha temple, the deities, in their golden avatar, were greeted by the devotees outside the Jagannath temple.

The temple administration said over 12 lakh people gathered to witness the annual spectacle of the deities.

The event attracts huge crowds since the three divine siblings are seen bereft of their limbs throughout the year, but during suna besha, hosted five times a year, they flaunt their golden arms and feet. The suna besha ritual, which occurs in the wake of bahuda yatra, attracts a huge number of devotees because this is the only time the deities appear in their golden avatar outside the temple on Grand Road. “The colourful and attractive forms of the deities dazzled when they wore their huge golden crowns, arms and feet and other accessories. The queues helped us view the deities clearly,” said Prasant Pradhan, a devotee.

Amidst the echoes of Bhikari Bal bhajans played at the venue, the “hari bol” and “Jai Jagannath” cries created an out-of-the-world ambience on Grand Road. The servitors carried the heavy accessories from the temple treasure house, Ratna Bhandar, to the chariots.

The adorning of the deities, starting with their special costume and garlands, began around 6pm and finally, the golden crown, arms, feet and other jewels were put on the idols by 7pm.

The suna besha, also known as rajarajeswar besha, has been conducted every year since 1460 when Puri king Kapilendra Deb brought gold for the deities after emerging victorious in a war. The gold was melted and made into many items, of which over 140 items, including the limbs and ornaments such as golden conch, chakra (wheel) and other accessories, are used to decorate the Trinity on the chariots.

“Apart from the ornaments, the deities also wear special clothes, which are actually shining silk pata handloom sarees. We take about an hour to decorate the deities with gold accessories, special flowers and costumes,” said Rama Chandra Das Mohapatra, a servitor.

Devotees could view the deities till about midnight amid tight security arrangements. Rath yatra rituals will conclude tomorrow after the deities are given a special beverage during adhara pana after which they will be carried inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath temple during niladri bije.