On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, thousands of devotees gathered at the Jagannath Temple in Puri to witness the divine ‘Raja Besha’ (Royal Attire) of Lord Jagannath, along with His siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. This ceremonial adornment is a significant event in the temple’s ritual calendar, attracting pilgrims and tourists from across India. The Raja Besha ritual took place after the completion of the Abakasa (morning ablutions) rituals. During this grand ceremony, the deities were beautifully adorned within the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of the temple, wearing sacred Pata clothes, sandalwood paste, and gold ornaments. This splendid display symbolizes their divine royalty and is believed to bless the devotees with prosperity and happiness.

The temple also conducted the Ayudha Puja (worship of weapons), an essential part of Dusshera celebrations. During this ritual, the Mekapa servitors placed various divine weapons on three silver plates and performed three ceremonial rounds around the Srimandir (temple complex). Afterward, the Puspalaka servitors offered the weapons like ‘Hala Musala’, ‘Subarna Tadaki’ and ‘Sankha and Chakra’ to Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath respectively. As part of the Dusshera celebrations, Lord Madan Mohan and Ramakrushna, the representative deities of the main Lords, visited the Ballabhav Matha (monastery). Special rituals and prayers were performed during their visit, enhancing the spiritual ambiance of the festival.

One of the key attractions of Vijayadashami in Puri is the Gosani Yatra, which witnessed a massive gathering. Several ‘Medhas’ (decorated floats) congregated at the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) of the temple, followed by a Deva Sabha (Council of Demigods). Devotees were enthralled by the vibrant procession, featuring elaborate and colorful Gosani idols representing various forms of the Goddess.