Sradha besha

Sraddha Besha of Jagannath is a special ritual attire observed at the Jagannath Temple during Pitru Paksha.

On this day, Lord Jagannath is dressed in a simple form symbolizing the performance of Śrāddha rituals for ancestors, showing that the Lord also follows human traditions of honoring departed souls.

when the besha observed?

For the sake of His ancestors, He offers lamps (Deepa Dana) for three days. on Margashira Krishna Chaturdashi, Amavasya, and Shukla Pratipada.
Among these ancestors are:
Aditi and Kashyapa
Dasharatha, Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra
Nanda and Yashoda
Vasudeva and Devaki
King Indradyumna and Queen Gundicha
1. On Margashira Krishna Chaturdashi, lamps are offered in honor of Aditi and Kashyapa.
2. On Amavasya, they are offered for King Dasharatha and Kausalya.
3. On Pratipada, lamps are dedicated to Vasudeva, Devaki, Nanda, Yashoda, Indradyumna, and Goddess Gundicha.

During this lamp-offering ritual of Mahaprabhu at the Shree Jagannath Temple, a special attire is observed. It is known as Shraddha Vesha.
The Pushpalaka servitors adorn the deities (Shree Jius) in this Shraddha Vesha using Nagapuri sari cloth. In this attire, the deities wear white garments. However, the borders (stripes) of each deity’s cloth are of different colors, distinguishing one from another.

Special Features of Shraddha Besa
Observed During Deva Deepavali
This besa (attire) is observed during the three sacred days of Margashira Krishna Chaturdashi, Amavasya, and Shukla Pratipada.
Ancestor Ritual (Shraddha & Tarpana)
Lord Jagannath Himself performs Shraddha rituals for His divine ancestors, showing a rare human-like conduct (Nara Lila).
Special White Attire
The deities wear plain white garments, symbolizing purity, simplicity, and the traditional dress worn during Shraddha rituals.
Nagapuri Sari Cloth
The dress is made from Nagapuri sari cloth, which is specially used for this ritual.
Different Colored Borders
Though the garments are white, each deity’s cloth has different colored borders (dhadi) to distinguish them.
Simple and Sober Decoration
Unlike other grand besas, Shraddha Besa is simple and solemn, reflecting the seriousness of ancestral rites.
Rare and Unique Tradition
It is unique because a deity performing Shraddha for ancestors is very rare in Hindu tradition.