Tearful adieu to Lord Jagannath - Temple seeks donations for feast

Devotees in front of the Jagannath temple in Puri. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 11: Preparations are in full swing for the final Nabakalebar rituals which will see the old idols of Lord Jagannath and His siblings being buried and the "souls" being transferred to the new ones.

The soul-transfer rituals at the 12th century shirne in Puri will take place in the intervening night of June 15 and June 16.

Senior daitapatis (servitors), who take care of the daily rituals of the deities, are trying to contain their emotions. President of the Daitapati association Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra said: "Lord Jagananth is the head of our family. For us, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra are human beings. They are part of our family. Like of all of us, they, too, pass through the cycle of life and death. Following the age-old practice and custom, we will observe rituals associated with the death of family member."
On the 10th day of the burial following Hindu rituals, the servitors will tonsure their heads. On the 13th day - June 27 - the rituals will end and the daitas and the temple administration will invite people for a customary feast.
Dasmohapatra said: "In our families, we invite people on the 11th day of a death. But, in the case of the deities, we observe it on the 13th day. This is a big occasion for us as the change of idols is taking place after 19 years."

The last Nabakalebar had taken place in 1996.
The servitors and the Puri temple administration, which runs the day-to-day affairs of the temple, have decided to invite as many people as possible. The mahaprasad, the cooked food of the Shree Jagannath temple, will be served.

"We expect at least 1.5 lakh devotees on that day," said Dasmohapatra.
Providing free food to so many people is not going to be an easy task. Keeping this in view, the temple administration has sought donations from the people. Chief administrator of the temple administration Suresh Mohapatra said: "Interested persons and institutions may deposit their donations in favour of the administrator, Shree Jagannath Temple, either in the account number of 491711730 of Indian Bank (IFSC-IDIB000P057) or directly donate cash at the temple office. They can also donate money at the information centres of the temple at the Singhadwara and near Jayadev Bhavan, Bhubaneswar."

Construction of the new idols is going on the premises of the temple in secret. Servitors are beating drums and playing gongs, so that the sound of making idols does not go outside the temple. Temporary barricades have been erected using palm leaves at the Koilibai Kuntha where the idols are being made.

The state administration has urged the Centre to declare Grand Road running from Jagannath Temple to Sri Gundicha temple as a no-flying zone.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150612/jsp/frontpage/story_25227.jsp#.VXpVFCS9ZJ4