When the gods go on a picnic!
SARAT CHANDRA
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`Bana Bhoji Besha' ritual shows deities set out into a journey of adventure.
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Lord Jagannath in the Bana Bhoji Besha.
Lord Jagannath of Puri is a sportive God who loves outdoors. And autumn is the right time for him to begin his journey outside his temple. On August 18 (the ninth day of Bhadrav), the deity supposedly went out for a picnic! This is a fascinating ritual of the Jagannath temple known as Bana Bhoji Besha.
This ritual reflects how Lord Jagannath loves fun, adventure and natural beauty like the young Lord Krishna. In fact, Lord Jagannath is also viewed as Krishna and several activities of Krishna's younger days are part of Puri temple rituals. But Bana Bhoji Besha illustrates the fun-loving side of Lord Krishna, his love of good food and life close to nature.
Certain objects used in this Besha drive home the theme of a picnic. For example, both Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are shown carrying pots full of cream. Legs and palms made of wood are fixed for this Bessha; on either side of each god two wooden sculptures of a cow and calf are also shown.
These objects and a bamboo staff in hand suggest the deities' journey into the jungles. And yet, they also wear a lot of gold ornaments that reflect their royal lineage. The most striking, known as suna kia, resembles the petal of kewda flower. On the head of each god are set 25 such ornaments. The other jewels used during this occasion are the odhiani, tilaka, and a number of necklaces. Like all Beshas in the Puri shrine, this one take place at a specified time as recorded in a book known as The Record or Rights. It starts post lunch and remains until the evening food offering is over (the Puri temple deities are offered ritualistic food at least six times a day, from breakfast to supper). Seasonal rhythm has influenced several rituals of the Puri temple and Bana Bhoji Besha makes this evident.
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