Keonjhar: Thousands of devotees from all over Keonjhar and outside the district witnessed the Suna Besha of Lord Sri Baladev Jew, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra at the world’s tallest Jagannath chariot here on Saturday. The deities were dressed in about 12 kg of gold ornaments and 22 kg of silver ornaments fixed with precious stones, sources said.Umashankar Dalei, executive officer, endowment department, sub-sub collector, Keonjhar, said, “The Suna Besha was performed under tight security, proper arrangement according to tradition, and the real gold and other precious ornaments of the deities donated by the former king.”Sources said that the gold ornaments used include donations from the monarchy, featuring engravings of the royal family’s portrait.
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“The cost of the ornaments will be hundreds of crores for their antique value,” said Naba Kishore Sahu, an elderly person. The Suna Besha was open for viewing of the devotees from 4 pm to 10 pm. No one was allowed to go close to the deities with barricades being raised around the chariot.According to the historian, after 1961, the last Suna Besha was conducted in the presence of the last king of the then king-ruled state of Keonjhar. After many years, the Suna Besha again started with real gold ornaments from 2009. From 1961 until 2009, the Suna Besha was conducted only with gold-plated ornaments .The 16th-century Sri Baladevjew temple was built by King Laxmi Narayan Bhanjadeo. The chariot of Keonjhar is the tallest in the world. According to sources, all the ornaments are kept in a bank locker. No one knows the actual quantity and value of Sri Baladevjew’s ornaments.Jyotirmaya Bhukta, additional superintendent of police, Keonjhar, said, “Adequate police forces have been deployed near the chariot.”
