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Monday, 22 June 2015
Jagannath Puri: Old chariot parts on sale
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May 28, 2015 Subhashish Mohanty
File picture of the dismantled parts of chariots after a rath yatra in Puri
Bhubaneswar, May 27: Come June 5, devotees of Lord Jagannath will get an opportunity to buy parts of the divine chariots, including its wooden wheels, as mementos.
Announcing the decision, chief administrator of the Jagannath temple administration Suresh Chandra Mohapatra today said: "The pieces will be sold on first-come-first served basis. While the price of a decorated wooden chariot wheel has been fixed at Rs 50,000, a piece of prava (a decorative wood work on the chariot) will cost Rs 25,000. We have invited people to send their applications or contact us through mobile phone."
The devotees can reach the temple administration at 9437281288 and 9861093172.
Besides, the guja (the wooden plate connecting wheel base and floor of chariot) will be sold for Rs 10,000 and asuri (wooden pillar on the chariot) for Rs 10,000 a piece. The temple administration has decided to sell 108 wheels, 103 pieces of guja, 83 pieces of asuri and nine pieces of prabha. These are parts of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his siblings that are lying with the administration since 2012.
Mohapatra said: "Earlier, the parts of the chariots were used as firewood in the temple kitchens. The sale move is in response to the interest evinced by the devotees." He, however, said they would request the devotees buying the chariot parts not to misuse them.
"If any one misuses it, we will initiate action against the buyers according to law," he said.
In another development, the first meeting of the rath yatra co-ordination committee was held in Puri today to ensure that all ongoing projects for the car festival are completed well in time.
The meeting, however, witnessed angry exchanges as many committee members alleged that a lot of work was yet to completed. They also raised questions as to how drainage, sewerage and road work be completed when most of them had just begun.
Chairman of the Nabakalebar infrastructure committee Maheswar Mohanty, who enjoys the rank of a cabinet minister, admitted the delay in execution of works because of lack of co-ordination between different departments.
"We will ensure that various infrastructure related works are completed before time. As the temperature has dropped a bit, work on various projects will be expedited," he said.
The co-ordination committee meeting also dealt with the issue of health care services and parking facilities for vehicles that would enter Puri during the car festival.
Revenue divisional commissioner Bikash Chandra Mohapatra said: "The government is holding regular meetings to monitor the projects."
The members of the committee also questioned why the temple administration had allowed the carpenters to use kaintha wood instead of phasi wood for making the wheels of the chariots.
"The age-old tradition has been broken. We seek an answer from the temple administration," said senior servitor Rama Chandra Dasmohapatra.
The members also expressed their concern over the temple job of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). They are particularly irked over ASI painting the lower parts of temple mast in red instead of the traditional white. The temple administration has assured to repaint it white.
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190 CCTVs in Puri to Monitor Rath Yatra Crowd
PURI: Director General of Police (DGP), Sanjib Marik on Thursday asked the line departments in Puri to complete all infrastructure works related to the ensuing Rath Yatra by June 15 so that security arrangements can be put in place.
Marik was here to review the security arrangements for the grand festival and inaugurate the website of Puri Police (www.puripolice.nic.in).
Addressing mediapersons, the DGP said a five layer security ring will be thrown around the Jagannath temple, Gundicha temple and Puri town. Although he did not specify the number of security personnel to be deployed during the fete, Marik said anti-sabotage teams will also be roped in to thwart any untoward incident.
The Odisha Police Housing Corporation has already started installing 190 close circuit cameras (CCTVs) across the town to monitor crowd movement.
While CCTVs are also being installed inside the Jagannath temple complex, hoteliers and lodge owners have been asked to install them in their properties to keep an eye on tourists’ movement. Baggage scanners will be installed at Atharnullah, Mangala Ghat and Balighat - the three entry points to the town, while two scanners would be installed at two gates of the Jagannath temple, besides one at the Puri railway station.
The DGP added that the Coast Guard personnel and officers of Marine police stations will patrol the Puri beach in speed boats and aerial surveillance will also be conducted.
As many as 300 lifeguards would be deployed along Puri beach from Chakratirtha Road to Swargadwara to prevent incidents of drowning in the sea. Besides, 14 watch towers would be erected for surveillance.
The Grand Road - venue of the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra - would be declared a no-flying zone and three air ambulances will be stationed at the Talabania helipad for emergency cases, Marik said. An additional helipad would come up prior to the fete at Baliapanda for arrival and departure of VVIPs. A control room would be set up at Town police station to oversee security and crowd movement within the town.
Later in the afternoon, the DGP inaugurated the new building of Baseli Sahi police station, an officers’ hostel, two police barracks, a barrack for female constables in the reserve line police grounds and the SDPO office. Marik also inspected the ongoing works on 35 new parking lots in and around the town and the road intersections along the NH-203 on way to Puri.
Car Festival Meet
Noisy scenes were witnessed at the first coordination committee meeting on the Rath Yatra on Wednesday.
Puri MLA and chairman of Nabakalebara infrastructure supervision committee Maheswar Mohanty expressed concern at the slow pace of infrastructure work. While all the line departments had assured to complete infrastructure works for Nabakalebara by May 25, the projects are moving at snail’s pace.
Attended by officials of all line departments, Jagannath temple priests, members of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration and district authorities, the committee discussed supply of uninterrupted power, potable drinking water during the fete and laying of drains in the town. Members of the committee resented the delay in laying of pipelines and renovation of the District Headquarters Hospital, which is suffering from doctors’ shortage. Officials of the Public Works Department informed that construction of the bus stand at Puri would be over by June 15.
Special Trains
The East Coast Railways (ECoR) would ply 200 special trains to Puri during the Rath Yatra. The ongoing work for doubling of railway tracks would be completed soon, informed the railway authorities. Besides, a permanent rest shed for pilgrims, coming up near the Puri railway station at the cost of `10 crore, is nearing completion.
Nabakalebara preparations insufficient till date
Puri, May
28: The first high level coordination committee meeting for the July 18 annual
Rath Yatra of the Nabakalebara year that was held on the Wednesday ended
without discussing all the points as pandemonium prevailed after a series of
issues were raised by some temple servitors.
It was
revealed that most of the infrastructure development works for Nabakalebara
ritual of Lord Jagannath, his siblings Balabhadra and sister Subhadra and
Sudarshan remains incomplete till date despite the respective departments’
commitment to complete the job before the deadline.
Maheswar
Mohanty, BJD legislator from Puri and chairperson of the Nabakalebara
Infrastructure Development Committee expressed concern over the issue.
Among other things, the committee
discussed about supply of uninterrupted power, potable water and laying of
drains while important issues such as supply of essentials commodities,
passenger transport by road and railways, security arrangements maintenance of
law and order, post and telegraph service, about construction of parking lots
and information centres could not be discussed in the meeting.
The PHD would provide 58 million
litres per drinking water per day during the festival. It would create 60 deep
and 1400 shallow tube wells besides the existing systems in the city.
The power supply officials informed
that continuous power supply would be provided to the city through two 33KV
stations established at Samagara and Samuka stations.
Members expressed concern over the
outbreak of jaundice and poor health care facility in the city. They alleged
that the district headquarters hospital was unable to provide treatment because
of shortage of staffs and doctors in the hospital.
The ongoing row over construction
and renovation of the existing bus stand at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.4 crore
in the city between the civic body and the PWD has caused inordinate delay
while it was alleged poor work was executed while renovating the holy ponds.
The storm
water discharge lines were yet to be completed while the repairs and
construction of roads were delayed. The committee was informed that the all the
construction work would be completed by June 15.
Special trains
East Coast Railway would ply 200
special trains to Puri during the festival. The ongoing work of the doubling
the tracks to Puri would be completed soon, the railway officials informed.
The
permanent Mella shed for the pilgrim shelter being constructed near the Puri
railway station at a cost of about Rs. 10 crore is nearing completion. The
parking lot at the station and two new platforms have been completed to
facilitate movements of the trains. Efforts were on to run a number of local
trains from Malatipatpur railway station to Puri during the fete. As many as 64
ticket booking counters would operate to cater to the needs of the visitors.
Security
Director
General of Police Sanjib Marik had set deadline for completion of all ongoing
construction related to Nabakalebara preparation work like construction of
parking lots, temporary pilgrim shelter sheds, drainage and sewer lines before
June 15 so that the police security planning could the made out. He was
evaluating the security and other logistic arrangements in a high level meeting
of senior officials and engineers of concern departments on Thursday.
Addressing
media persons, Marik said five layer security arrangements for the Sri
Jagannath temple and Gundicha temple and entire city would be made to ensure
safe conduct of the fete.
An unspecified number of police
personnel including the NSG, RAF and SOG besides bomb detection and disposal
units would be pressed into service. This apart anti-sabotage teams would put
in place to thwart any such attempt.
A total of
190 CCTV cameras were being installed by the police housing corporation across
the city and strategic places to monitor the crowd movement.
A number of CCTVs would be installed
inside the Sri Jagannath temple complex.
This apart all the hotels,
apartments and commercial establishments were directed to install CCTVs in
their facilities.
Baggage
scanners would be installed at the Atharnulla, Mangalaghat and Balighat the
three entry points to the city while two scanners would be installed at two gates
of the main temple besides one at Railway station.
The security
personnel of the Coast Guard and the personnel of marine police stations would
patrol the beach line of Puri in speed boats while air surveillance would be
conducted.
The entire Bada Danda (Grand Road),
the venue for the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra, would be declared as no flying zone
during the fete. An additional helipad would be constructed at Baliapanda area
for landing of VVIP guests. Three air ambulances would be kept in readiness at Talabania
helipads. A state-of-the-art police control room would function from the town
police station, the DGP said.
Gajapati Extends Rath Yatra Invite to Shankaracharya
PURI: Gajapati Dibyasingh Dev, the foremost servitor of Lord
Jagannath and Chairperson of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and
Administrator (temple rituals) of SJTA PK Dash on Tuesday invited
Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to participate in the Deba Snana Purnima
and Rath Yatra along with six of his disciples.
At the managing committee meeting held on Sunday under the
chairmanship of the Gajapati, it was resolved that no person other than the
servitors on duty would be allowed to touch the deities during the ‘Sahana
Mela’ (free public darshan) during Snana Purnima on June 2. Gajapati informed
that while the Shankaracharya is empowered to touch the Trinity during the
Snana Purnima, disciples accompanying him cannot do so.
Last year, protesting the decision of the temple administration
to allow only the Shankaracharya to offer prayer during the two rituals, the
Seer did not attend the Rath Yatra. However, this year, the temple managing
body allowed six disciples of the Shankaracharya to accompany him to Snana Bedi
and the chariots.
On Tuesday, both the Gajapati and Shankaracharya had a closed
door meeting for an hour and later the Seer told mediapersons that the temple
body has resolved to resume the age old practice of inviting Shankaracharya and
his disciples to participate in the grand fete of the deities.
Terming it as a welcome decision, the Seer asked the SJTA
officials not to interfere in the traditions and rituals of the Puri temple.
Puri Temple to Invite Seer, Disciples for 'Snana' Rituals
PURI: Putting to rest the controversy over participation of Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati in the Deba Snana Purnima and Rath Yatra rituals, the managing committee of Jagannath temple has decided to invite the seer along with his disciples to ‘Snana Bedi’ and Rath Yatra to offer prayers.
At the managing committee meeting held on Sunday under the chairmanship of Gajapati Dibyasingh Dev, it was resolved that no person other than the servitors on duty would be allowed to touch the deities during the ‘Sahana Mela’ (free public darshan) during ‘Snana Purnima’ on June 2.
Last year, protesting the decision of the temple administration to allow only the Shankaracharya to offer prayer during the two rituals, the seer did not attend the Rath Yatra. However, this year, the temple managing body has allowed six disciples of the Shankaracharya to accompany him to ‘Snana Bedi’ and the chariots.
Meanwhile, in another decision, it was resolved to extend financial assistance to the individuals and temples from where the Darus for the Trinity and Lord Sudarshan were collected.
Since Sudarshan Daru was standing on a Government land, the man who was taking care of the tree, Somnath Behera, would be gifted a wheel of a chariot.
The Sarala temple administration would be paid ` five lakh and gifted a wheel of the rath as Daru for Lord Balabhadra’s new idol was collected from the temple’s
vicinity. Similarly, the Nilakantheswar Temple Trust where the holy Daru of Devi Subhadra was found would be gifted ` five lakh and a wheel of the rath.
On the other hand, Krushna Chandra Mallick of Kharipadia on whose land the Daru for Lord Jagannath’s idol was spotted, would be paid ` three lakh and the villagers would be paid ` five lakh.
This apart, religious insignias would be erected at the sites from where the holy Neem trees were collected.The temple body almost doubled the wages of
Palia servitors and raised wages of carpenters by 20 per cent.
Chief Administrator of the Jagannath temple administration Suresh Chandra Mahapatra and all members of the temple managing committee participated in the meeting.
Jagannath daru enters temple - First phase of Nabakalebar comes to an end in Puri
Puri,
May 22: The sacred logs for making the new idol of Lord Jagannath
reached the 12th century temple here today.
Nearly
one lakh people congregated here to witness the carts carrying the scared neem
logs. The procession, which took the shape of a mini car festival, had begun
from Kharipadia village in Jagatsinghpur district on May 14.
Devotees
jostled with each other to get a glimpse of the daru (tree in
Odia) and even tried to touch the rope that pulled the cart. The volunteers
sprinkled water to keep the devotees cool. Women also turned up in large
numbers.
With
this the first phase of the Nabakalebar yatra, which had started 55 days back
on March 29, came to an end.
Chief
servitor of Lord Jagannath sevayat Jagannath Swain Mohapatra said: "We
have been able to perform our duty properly."
The
journey to locate the scared trees for making the idols of the deities began
with sevayats leaving their homes on March 29. Two days later they began their
journey to Kakatpur, about 65km from Puri, on foot to seek the blessings of its
presiding deity, Goddess Mangala.
The
first neem tree for Lord Sudarshan, considered as the weapon of Lord Jagannath,
was spotted at Gadakuntunia village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The other
trees for making the idols of Lord Balabahdra and Goddess Subhadra were found
at Kanakpur and Adanga in Jagatsinghpur district. All the logs were brought to
Puri on carts pulled by the devotees. The entire stretch connecting
Jagatsinghpur to Puri drew huge crowds.
The
next important part of the Nabakalabar yatra is the change of soul of the
deities that will take place on June 15, before the car festival on July 18. On
that night, a particular group of servitors will perform the ritual. The old
idols of the gods and goddess will be buried in the Koeli Baikuntha on the
temple premises the same night.
President
of the Sevayat Niyog Ramakurshana Dasmohapatra said: "We are really
overwhelmed in the way the people have showered their love on us. With the
blessings of Lord Jagannath, the entire Nabakalebara yatra would pass off
peacefully."
However,
the contentious issue of touching the Lord during the rath yatra has again
snowballed into a major issue. Earlier, the temple administration had
prohibited the devotees from touching the deities during the rath yatra.
Now the
temple administration has decided not to allow the devotees to touch the
deities on the Snana Purima on June 2, when deities would be taken out of the
sanctum sanctorum and placed on a "pandal" in the premises of the
temple. The idols will be given a bath with 108 pots of scared water.
Temple
chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra said: "There is a high court order on
this issue. We, hope, everyone will cooperate in abiding by it."
The
sevayats have threatened to oppose the decision of the temple administration.
