The Gajanan Besha, also known as ‘Hati Besha’ is adorned by the deities on the occasion of ‘Devasnana Purnima’, where mask of the elephant god is placed on Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath after the ceremony. The Besha symbolizes Lord Jagannath’s omnipresence and remover of obstacles. The story goes that many years ago, there was a scholar by the name Ganpati Bhatta who was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha. When he heard that there is manifest of God in the form of Lord Jagannath, he decided to visit Shrikshetra. When he reached the ceremony, he was disappointed to not see Lord Ganesha in Lord Jagannath’s idol. As he was leaving a stranger started talking to him and after knowing the reason for his disappointment, he advised Ganpati Bhatta to pray to view any form in Lord Jagannath. Paying heed to the stranger’s advice, Bhatta prayed in front of the idol with utmost sincerity. When he opened his eyes, he saw Ganesha in Lord Jagannath’s idol. He was overwhelmed and realised that there is no difference between any god. Since that day, Hati Besha has become a ritual after the bathing ceremony.
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