BHUBANESWAR: Probable neem trees, spotted by a group of Jagannath Temple priests at different places for Nabakalebara, have been drawing huge crowd with locals offering prayers and conducting yagnas every day.
Villagers said they have formed groups to protect the trees.
At Jhinti on the outskirts of the city, villagers do not allow people to touch a neem tree, which was inspected by priests on Monday.
"We are hopeful that the 70-year-old tree will be used for Jagannath's idol. The Banajaga Yatris asked us to take care of the tree. We have been protecting the tree," said Sanjay Sahoo, a local.
Priests spotted a tree on Monday at Daruthenga near Chandaka here. "People from nearby areas have been visiting our village to catch a glimpse of the tree, which meets all the criteria for Jagannath's idol. We are worshipping the tree," said Bikram Pradhan, a villager.
Priests have so far spotted over 20 probable neem trees for formation new idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan.
After reaching Kakatpur on April 2 as part of 49-day Banajaga Yatra (search for Neem trees), the priests belonging to Daitapati community of the temple split in different groups and located the probable trees in Khurda, Puri, Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
"We will continue the search operation for the next few days. Our team members will discuss with the team leader and finalize the four sacred trees," said senior servitor Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra.
Jagannath Temple Administration has been keeping the development very 'low key'. "Since selection of the trees is a sensitive matter, we have to maintain secrecy. We will shortly announce the location of the four trees," said a temple officer.
The temple administration earlier urged the media not to publish or display any material, relating to probable location of neem timber before official announcement by the temple body.
"People in huge numbers might congregate at those villages, which will lead to serious law and order situation. It will be extremely difficult for temple administration to protect such trees," temple's chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra had said.
"Mediapersons are requested not to chase or follow the Daitapati Sevaks till the final announcement about trees by temple administration," Mohapatra had added.
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