Veshas of Lord Sri Jagannath

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.