Ghoda Lagi festival at Puri Srimandir today, know rituals

Puri, Dec 7: Ghoda lagi festival will be conducted at Puri Srimandir today. On this occasion, Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra will begin wearing his winter clothes.

 From Vasant Shasthi to Fagu Dashami, for 35 days, Lord Jagannath wears different clothes called Jamala Lagi or Thia Ghoda Besha.

The Puri Jagannath temple celebrates many festivals throughout the year as Lord Jagannath wears sandalwood paste in summer to protect himself from the heat, during the Margashira month; he wears special winter clothes to protect himself from the cold.

These winter clothes include Ghoda Lagi Besha (a special type of dress), which is made from Khondapaat, Makhamal, cotton fabrics, and other materials.

The Ghoda Besha is typically made by traditional tailors who create this clothing using a specific style. According to tradition, different colored clothes are worn by Lord Jagannath every day during the festival:

Sunday: Yellow-colored clothes

Monday: Black and white combination clothes

Tuesday: Five-colored clothes

Wednesday: Blue-colored clothes

Thursday: Yellow-colored clothes

Friday: White clothes

Saturday: Black clothes

Astrologers believe that the seven colors correspond to the seven planets. Every year, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra wear these clothes, and they are prepared by temple tailors in their traditional style.

As described in the scriptures, those who witness Lord Jagannath’s Prabharana Shasthi procession are said to be free from all kinds of troubles and suffering.

The Ghoda Besha for Lord Jagannath is 14 hands long and 3 hands wide.

During the Ghoda Lagi Besha, priests sit below the throne and perform prayers. Due to the cold weather, Lord Jagannath doesn't wear the winter clothes during evening prayers but wears them in the morning.

In this unique attire, Lord Jagannath is adorned with various jewelry and ornaments, such as Trishakha, Kundala, and Tadgi. After the morning dhupa (incense offering), the temple staff performs a final ceremonial ritual, where all the horses used for the procession are decorated with bells and other ornaments.

This special Ghoda Lagi attire is much likely by the devotees, and it adds to the divine beauty of the Lord. The Prabharana Utsav or festival is a sight of great devotion for all those who witness it.

Through this special Prabharana Utsav, Lord Jagannath blesses all his devotees with happiness, prosperity, and liberation.