PURI: Massive infrastructure works are being undertaken at the Deuli Mutt, Alarnath temple and Jagannath Ballav Mutt ahead of the Banajaga Yatra, the journey for search of Daru (neem trees for carving of new idols). All the three religious structures are associated with Nabakalebara rituals of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Banajaga Yatra is considered the opening chapter of Nabakalebara.
A group of priests consisting of Daitapatis, Pati Mahapatra Sevaks and Vishwakarmas (carpenters) will start its journey from Jagannath Ballav Mutt in Puri on March 29 and arrive at Deuli Mutt in Kakatpur on April 2. The Daitapatis will stay in the Jagannath Ballav Mutt for 36 hours before they set out on their journey. They would stay at Deuli Mutt for a week seeking Goddess Mangala’s divine instructions on the location of the Neem trees.
After taking the blessings of Maa Mangala, the presiding deity of Kakatpur, they will be divided into different groups and move out in search of the neem trees with holy symbols. Once a Daru is located, the Pati Mahapatra first touches it with a golden axe followed by the Daitapati who touches it with a silver axe. Lastly, the head wood carver of the Maharana family would touch it with an iron axe. During the tree cutting, the 108 names of Lord Jagannath will be chanted and after it is felled, the trunks along with its branches would be placed in a wooden cart and dragged by the Daitapatis and the others in the group to the Puri temple.
While the Culture Department has roped in INTACH to implement renovation works in the Mangala temple at a cost of ` one crore, Tourism Department is spending `3.5 crore and ` two crore for repair and development works in Alarnath temple and Deuli Mutt respectively. Similarly, accommodation facilities for pilgrims and servitors and an interpretation centre on Jagannath culture are in the offing for the Jagannath Ballav Mutt at Puri.
The Tourism Department is expecting massive gathering at Alarnath temple in the wake of ‘Maha Anasara’ ritual that will be observed for 45 days this time. An Ananda Bazaar, a large kitchen and tourist amenities are being constructed at the temple. The 24-km road from Puri to Alarnath near Brahmagiri is being widened.
Training Camp for Young Daitas
A two-day training camp for young members of the Daitapati community on the rituals and practices associated with Nabakalebara was started here on Saturday. It was inaugurated by Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo.
As the last Nabakelabara was held 19 years back, the young Daitas, who would be accompanying the Banajaga Yatra team have no idea about the practices involved in it, said chief administrator of the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration Suresh Chandra Mohapatra. “This necessitated the need for a training camp where senior members of the Daitapati community will train them,” he added.
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