Divine Beshas of Jagannath: Chandana & Kaliyadalana

Description (approx. 400 words):

Chandana Besha, a significant ritual in the Jagannath Temple of Puri, is a 42-day-long festival celebrated during the Hindu months of Baishakha and Jyestha (roughly April-June). The word “Chandana” refers to sandalwood, and this Besha involves anointing the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra with fragrant sandalwood paste. This cooling paste provides relief from the intense summer heat. The festival commences on Akshaya Tritiya, a highly auspicious day in the Hindu calendar.  

The preparation of the sandalwood paste is a meticulous process. Sandalwood logs are ground on stone slabs by special servitors over several days. The resulting paste is then mixed with fragrant herbs, flowers, and other aromatic ingredients. This fragrant mixture is then applied to the deities’ bodies, creating a visually stunning and spiritually uplifting spectacle. The Chandana Besha symbolizes purification, devotion, and the cooling grace of the divine. It is a time of great festivity and religious fervor, attracting thousands of devotees to Puri.

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