Puri, June 26: With the annual Rath Yatra approaching, preparations for the grand festival are gathering pace. As part of the ritual arrangements, 380 kilograms of sacred Basunga silk yarn has been dispatched to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri for use in the temple's traditional ceremonies.
The consignment was flagged off from the premises of the Odisha State Cooperative Tassar & Silk Federation (SERIFED) at Shahid Nagar in Bhubaneswar by Odisha's Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister, Pradeep Bal Samanta. The silk yarn was ceremonially offered with prayers before being sent to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.
Basunga silk yarn plays a vital role in the temple's sacred rituals, particularly the confidential ‘Gupta Niti’ of Lord Jagannath. It is used to prepare ritual items such as the ‘Vijaya Dori’ (ceremonial cord), ‘Paita’ (sacred thread), ‘Rakshi’, and other sacred accessories required for the deities.
SERIFED has been supplying Basunga silk yarn to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration since 1981. This year, the federation has provided 380 kilograms of the sacred yarn to meet the temple's ritual requirements ahead of the Rath Yatra.
