Bhubaneswar: As Puri Srimandir prepares for the auspicious Rakhi Purnima tomorrow, the Patara Bisoi servitors are giving final touches to the intricately crafted rakhis and gua malas that will adorn Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra in a ritual steeped in tradition and symbolism.
In a unique reflection of sibling love, Devi Subhadra ties rakhis to her brothers, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra, during the ceremony. Following temple customs, each of the brothers wears two rakhis and two gua malas, all made from basunga pata—a sacred silk thread prepared from mulberry cocoons by tribal silk farmers in Gajapati district’s Mohana and R. Udaygiri blocks. The thread’s rich reddish hue is achieved through a traditional dyeing process using kaitha fruit paste sourced from Koraput.
The gua malas, each strung with 54 betel nuts (guas), are made in colours such as yellow, red, blue, and violet. Preparation begins on Chitalagi Amavasya, with about 15 kilograms of basunga pata provided by the Srimandir administration. “The rakhis and gua malas are almost ready, and will soon be handed over to the Bhandar Mekap for the ceremony,” said Patara Bisoi servitor Santosh Kumar Patra.
On Rakhi Purnima morning, the sacred items are taken to the temple in two separate bundles before being ceremonially presented to the deities. For the servitors, the work is more than a ritual duty—it is a cherished spiritual honour to weave and prepare offerings that embody the divine bond between the holy siblings of Srimandir.
