Puri, Oct 16: Rai-Damodara Besha ritual was performed in Jagannath Temple at Puri on Saturday.

Accordingly, lord Jagannath was bedecked as Damodara with the attire of lord Krishna in the noon after the daily common rituals like Prabhata abakasa ritual,Sakala dhupa rituals and Mangala alati rituals.

At the same time, Radha was adorned as Rai after due permission from goddess Laxmi.

The Rai-Damodara Besha takes place from the Aswina Sukla Ekadasi to Kartika Sukla Dasami tithi (11th day of the month of Ashwina (Sept-Oct) to till 10th bright day of the month of Kartik(Oct-Nov) is known as Radha-Damodar month.

In these days, Lord Jagannath is decorated as Damodar (Krishna) after obtaining permission from Sridevi (Laxmi) by the serviters. Then the lord Jagannath is worshiped along with Radha who was welknown as Rai in the Gopapura at the time of Dwapara. Thus, the besha is known as Rai-Damodara besha.

The same attire will continue till the end of Karthika as the habisialies worship Jagannath as Krishana-Damodara from today. It will be concluded on the full moon day of the Kartika. However, no devotees are allowed to take part in the ritual this year due to Corona pandemic.

At the same time, the habisialies and the common devotees have been asked to perform the Kartika brata and the habisa at their homes, said a senior servitor.