Bheshas of Shri Jagannath

Lord Jagannath always shows close affinity to human world and it can be even more with his costumes in different Bhesa,The deities on the Ratnavedi are adorned with various gold ornament studded with precious gems,Tulasi leaves, sandalwood paste,camphor & occasionally musk are used in the daily puja of the lords. Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra (also called Bara Thakura) and his sister Subhadra are enthroned on the Ratnavedi or Singhasan, a throne of chlorire about five feet high. The images are wood, and there are also miniature metal images of Laksmi and Saraswati, besides an image called Sudarsan Chakra( the name of the wheel of Vishnu). The elder brother Balabhadra is six feet in height, the younger Jagannath five feet, and their sister Subhadra four feet. They are fashioned into a curious resemblance of the human head resting on a sort of pedestal. They are painted white, black, and yellow respectively. Social anthropologists interpret these colours to represent the three races of mankind viz. Negroids, Europeans and Mongoloiads. In the empirical language of physics black is the most ideal absorber of radiation, white a good reflector and the yellow one of the unadulterated primary colours. their faces are exceedingly large, and their bodies are decorated with a dress of different colored cloths. The two brothers have arms projecting horizontally forward from the ears.While the eyes of Jaganath are regular circles, the eyes of Subhadra and Balabhadra are oval. The head of Balabhadra is scalloped with a semi-circular lobe indicating a hood of a serpentSubhadra's head a tiara and Jagannath a straight line

Nabakalebara (construction of New idols of the three Lords) is regular feature of Jagannath Dham at regular intervals. Old, worn out idols are rejected and buried under earth and in their place, new idols for 3 deities, i.e. Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balaram, are constructed. From that time, tradition, still remains that carpenter sevaks and priests living with discipline pray,Maa Mangala of Kakatpur remaining prostrated before the deity at Kakatpur to bless them by showing sacred trees and their location, which alone are suitable for construction of the idols in Nabakalebara. In fact, they get the indication, and exact location of the sacred trees and path leading to the location, in dream. This practice and custom and tradition have been existing for years together, without any deviation. Successful guidance, without fail, from the deity to find out the sacred tree, is evidence of the power and energy of Maa Mangala of Kakatpur. This is unchallenged evidence which stands unrebutted giving concrete proof of blessing, power of mother Mangala on their devotees. Even Lord Jagannath who is the hood of all universe is assisted by mother, who is the original power for creation, is actively guiding the carpenters and priests to find out suitable sacred wood, according to specific features, for construction of the sacred idols, what to speak of other evidence.

The three deities have Vastra Shringar (dress regimen) too.Jagannath is dressed with clothes of prescribed colours viz. Sunday (red), Monday (white with black border),Tuesday (five assorted colours), wednesday (blue), Thursday (yellow), Friday (white), Saturday (black).As per lunar cycle deities are dressed up differently out of which 21 have historical significance viz. certain robes were introduced by none other than Chaitanya,Ganapatti Bhatta,Vallabhacharya,Ramanujaacharya and others in different centuries.

Abakash Bhesha

This is done daily, after mangala arati, for the abakash rituals. Abakash is the tooth brushing and bathing ritual. The clothes that are worn by the deities are called 'Tadapa' and 'Uttariya.'



Badasrunghara Vesha

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.

Chandana Vesha

This vesha is done for 42 days, beginning on Akshaya Trutiya.





Hati Vesha

On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha, after the bathing ceremony is over, the Deities are dressed in elephant costumes. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are made to look like Lord Ganesh.


Suna Vesha

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.

Raja Vesha
On the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Aswina,the full moon of Pousa and the full moon of Phalguna.

Banabhoji Vesha

On the 10th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra, the Deities are dressed for a picnic, like the cowherd boys.



Kaliyadalana Vesha

On the 1th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath is dressed as Krishna in His pastime of killing the serpent Kaliya(Black Cobra).



Pralambasura Badha Vesha
On the following day, the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, the Deities are dressed to commemorate Lord Balabhadra's pastime of killing the demon Prahlamba.



Krishna-Balarama Vesha
On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed very attractively as Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama.


Bali Vamana Vesha
On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadra, Lord Jagannath is dressed like the dwarf brahmin Vamana, who defeated the demon Bali. Vamanadeva was one of the das avatars, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Radha-Damodara Vesha
For an entire lunar month, from the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina to the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, the Deities are dressed in this vesha. Damodara refers to the lord with a rope tied around His waist, which relates to Krishna's pastimes with Mother Yashoda.


Thiakia Vesha or Laxmi-Narayana Vesha






Bankachuda Vesha

(Assuming the curted hair make-up)Used on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.


Adakia Vesha or Trivikrama Vesha

Used on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.




Dalikia Vesha or Laxmi Nrisimha Vesha

Used on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
Raja Rajeswari Vesha
The full moon of Kartika.

Chacheri Vesha
From the 9th day of the bright fortnight to the full moon of Jyestha except the 14th day.



Nagarjuna Vesha
This vesha honors Parasurama, the warrior incarnation. It is used only occasionally. It happens during the month of Kartika, when there are six days of Panchaka. This was done six times in the last 30 years on 11/3/95, 11/16/94, 11/26/93, 11/3/68, 11/16/67 and 11/26/66.


Ghodalagi Vesha
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.


Jamalagi Vesha
From Basanta Panchami to Dola Purnima the Deities wear modified ghoda (winter clothes).

Padma Vesha
It is done on Saturdays or Wednesdays between the new moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. 'Padma' means 'lotus,' and the Deities' dresses are made from lotus, sola lace and paper. These dresses are traditionally supplied by the Badachhata Matha. Halva is offered to the Deities when They are in this vesha.

Gaja Uddharana Vesha
This vesha is done on the full moon day of the month of Magha. It commemorates the story of Gajendra, the king of the elephants, and the alligator.