The Weekly Wardrobe of the Divine: Colors and Planets at Jagannath Temple

At the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the deities are not only adorned with elaborate Beshas for special festivals but also undergo a daily change of attire. This daily ritual involves dressing Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in different colored silken cloths called “Baralagi Pata,” with each day of the week associated with a specific color representing a planet .  

Here’s the weekly color scheme:

• Sunday: Red, representing the Sun
• Monday: Whitish cloth with black spots, representing the Moon
• Tuesday: Five-colored cloth (Pancharangi), representing Mars
• Wednesday: Sky blue, representing Mercury
• Thursday: Yellow, representing Jupiter
• Friday: White, representing Venus
• Saturday: Violet, representing Saturn  
  
  This daily ritual of changing the deities’ attire is a testament to the meticulous care and devotion with which they are worshipped. It’s a beautiful expression of the deep spiritual connection between the divine and the celestial realm.