Besha is a Sanskrit word, which means dress, costume or attire. Everyday from the ‘Mangala Alati’ till ‘Ratri Pahuda’, the deities on the ‘Ratnavedi’ of Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri are adorned with cotton and silken fabrics, gold ornaments studded with precious stones, flowers of several kinds and other leaves and herbs like Tulasi, Dayana, Marua etc. Sandal paste, camphor and at times precious musk are being used in the daily and periodical rituals.
The rituals of the Lord is based on anthropomorphic equation, where worshipped Gods are treated like human. Whether it is waking up in the morning, taking an afternoon nap; or resting at night after dinner; the rites are modeled in a humanitarian way. It is stated that, the images change their clothes and wear different kinds of ornaments as many as eight times during a normal
Beshas (Festive Dresses) 1. Ganesh Besha : On the Snana Purnima day the deities are dressed as Ganesh on the Snana Vedi. This is also called Hati Besha 2. Suna Besha : The Deities are dressed in gold in the car on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Asadha after the Return Car Festival is over. Suna Besha is also done on some other occasions. 3. Bana Bhoji Besha, Kaliyadalana : On the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th day of the dark Besha, Pralambasura Badha Besha, fortnight of Bhadrab respectively. Krushna, Balaram Besha 4. Raja Besha : On the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Aswina. 5. Radha-Damodar Besha : From the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Aswina to the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Karttika. 6. Lakshmi Narayan (Thiakia)Besha, : On the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and full moon day of the Bankachuda (Baman)Besha,Tribikram Karttika respectively. (Adakia)Besha, Nrusingha (Dalikia) Besha, Lakshmi Narayan (Raja Rajeswar) Besha, Nagarjun (Parasuram) Besha Nagarjun (Parasuram) Besha : On the 13th or 14th day of the bright fortnight of Karttika. This festive dressing of the Lord is occasionally done. 7. Sadha Besha or Ghodalagi Besha : From Odhan Sasthi to Basanta Panchami in the months of Margasira and Pousha. 8. Jamalagi Besha : From Basanta Panchami to Dola. 9. Padma Besha : On any Saturday or Wednesday between the new moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. 10. Gaja Uddharan Besha : On the full moon day of Magha. 11. Chacheri Besha : From the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna to the full mon day except the 14th day. 12. Chandanlagi Besha : For 42 days starting from the Akshaya Trutiya day i.e. the 3rd day of the bright frotnight of Baisakha.