The deities showing their close
affinity with the human world does changes their dresses/costumes with change
in time.The dresses,make up or the costume locally called as veshas starts
changing with the first daily ritual of Mangala Aarati.The deities on the
Ratnavedi are adorned with various gold ornament studded with precious
gemes.Tulasi leaves, sandalwood paste,camphor & occasionally musk are used in
the daily puja of the lords.Besides changing the dresses daily there are
certain veshas which the deities use on some special occasions falling in
different part of the year.
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.
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
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
On the 10th day of the bright
fortnight of Aswina,the full moon of Pousa and the full moon of Phalguna.
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(Black Cobra).
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.
Bankachuda Vesha
(Assuming the curted hair
make-up)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.
Raja Rajeswari Vesha
The full moon of Kartika.
Chacheri Vesha
From the 9th day of the bright
fortnight to the full moon of Jyestha except the 14th day.
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(Odhan Sasthi) 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 supplied 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.
