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The word 'Vesha'
means outfit or costume, in English. The deities on the ratnavedi are dressed in
different outfits beginning with mangala arati, the first arati of the day, and
ending with ratri pahuda. The dresses are made of cotton and silk, and are
adorned with gold ornaments, precious stones, different kinds of flowers,
peacock feathers, tulasi leaves and so on. Sandalwood paste, camphor and
occasionally musk are used in the daily and periodic rituals. A few of the major
veshas are listed below.
Abakasha Vesha or Tadapa Uttari Vesha : This
is done daily, after mangala arati, for the abakash rituals. Abakash is the
tooth brushing and bathing ritual. The clothes that are worn by the deities are
called 'Tadapa' and 'Uttariya.'
Badasrunghara Vesha :This is a very
beautiful vesha. It is done before the night time 'pahuda', when the deities are
allowed to take rest. It is therefore the vesha the deities appear in the
following morning, for mangala arati. This vesha is mostly made of different
kinds of flowers. The Lords are decorated with flowered ornaments known locally
in Puri as adhara, jhumpa, gava, chandrika, tilak, alaka, guna, hruda pallava,
karapallava and tadaki among others. The Deities also wear many flower garlands,
some with tulasi leaves, and silk clothes called khandua.
Chandana Vesha :This vesha is done for 42 days, beginning on Akshaya Trutiya.
Ganapati Vesha or Hati Vesha : On the full
moon day of the month of Jyestha, after the bathing ceremony is over, the
Deities are dressed in elephant costumes. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are
made to look like Ganapati (Ganesh, the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati).
Suna Vesha or Bada Tadhau Vesha : On the
11th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashada, when the Deities return
from the Gundicha Mandir on their chariots, they appear in the Suna (Gold) Vesha.
They are are decorated with golden ornaments and wear gold crowns. Lord
Jagannath and Lord Balabhada appear with hands and feet made of gold. Lord
Jagannath holds a golden chakra in His right hand and a silver conch shell in
His left. Lord Balabhadra holds a golden club in His right hand and a golden
plough in His left.
Raja Vesha : The same outfit as Suna Vesha,
but it is performed on Dussera, Kartik Purnima and Pousa Purnim.
Banabhoji Vesha : On the 10th day of the
dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra, the Deities are dressed for a picnic,
like the cowherd boys.
Kaliyadalana Vesha : On the 1th day of the
dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath is dressed as Krishna in His pastime of
killing the serpent Kaliya.
Pralambasura Badha Vesha : On the following
day, the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, the Deities are dressed to
commemorate Lord Balabhadra's pastime of killing the demon Prahlamba.
Krishna-Balarama Vesha : On the 13th day of
the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed
very attractively as Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama.
Bali Vamana Vesha : On the 12th day of the
bright fortnight Bhadra, Lord Jagannath is dressed like the dwarf brahmin Vamana,
who defeated the demon Bali. Vamanadeva was one of the das avatars, the ten
incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Radha-Damodara Vesha : For an entire lunar
month, from the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina to the 10th day of
the bright fortnight of Kartika, the Deities are dressed in this vesha. Damodara
refers to the lord with a rope tied around His waist, which relates to Krishna's
pastimes with Mother Yashoda.
Thiakia Vesha or Laxmi-Narayana Vesha : This
vesha is used on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
Bankachula Vesha : Used on the 12th day of
the bright fortnight of Kartika.
Adakia Vesha or Trivikrama Vesha : Used on
the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
Dalikia Vesha or Laxmi Nrisimha Vesha : Used
on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
Nagarjuna Vesha : This vesha honors
Parasurama, the warrior incarnation. It is used only occasionally. It happens
during the month of Kartika, when there are six days of Panchaka. This was done
six times in the last 30 years on 11/3/95, 11/16/94, 11/26/93, 11/3/68, 11/16/67
and 11/26/66.
Ghodalagi Vesha : During the period from the
6th day of the bright fortnight of Margasira to the 5th day of the bright
fortnight of Magha (Basanta Panchami) the Deities wear winter clothes.
Jamalagi Vesha : From Basanta Panchami to
Dola Purnima the Deities wear modified ghoda (winter clothes).
Padma Vesha : It is done on Saturdays or
Wednesdays between the new moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. 'Padma' means
'lotus,' and the Deities' dresses are made from lotus, sola lace and paper.
These dresses are traditionally supplierd by the Badachhata Matha. Halva is
offered to the Deities when They are in this vesha.
Gaja Uddharana Vesha : This vesha is done on
the full moon day of the month of Magha. It commemorates the story of Gajendra,
the king of the elephants, and the alligator.
Ganesh
Vesha- On the Snana Purnima the deities are dressed as Ganesha on the
Snana Vedi. This is also called as Hati Vesha
Suna Vesha - The deities are dressed in Gold
in their respective Cars on the 11th day of the bright fort night of Asadha
after the return Car Festival is over. Suna vesa is also done on some other
occasions
Banabhoji Vesha, Kaliyadalan Vesha, Pralambasura Badha
Vesha, Krushna Balaram Vesha On the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of
the dark fore night of Bhadrav respectively.
Raja Vesha - On the 10th day of the bright
fort night of Aswina
Radha Damodar Vesha, Baman Vesha, Tribikram Vesha (Adakia
vesha, Nrusingha(Dalikia) Vesha, Lakshmi Narayana Vesha (Raja Rajeswari Vesha)
On the 11th , 12th ,13th ,4th and full moon day of Kartika
respectively
Nagarjuna (Parsuram) Vesha- On the 13th day
of the bright fort night of Kartika. This Festive dressing of the Lord is
occasionally done
Sadha Vesha or ghodalagi Vesha - From Odhan
Sasthi to basanta Panchami in the month of Margasira and Pausa
Jamalagi Vesha- From Basanta Panchami to
Dola
Padma Vesha- On any Saturday or Wednesday
between the new moon Day of magha and Basanta Panchami
Gaja Udharana Vesha -On the fool moon day of
Magha
Chacheri Vesha - From the 10th day of the
bright fort night of Phalguna to the fool moon day except the 14th day
Chandanlagi Vesha- From 42 days starting
from the Akhaya Trutiya day that is the 3rd day of the bright fort night of
Baisakh.