Govt records on past seven Nabakalebara festivals to be put on display

BHUBANESWAR: Massive conservation plans for important Government document and records have been drawn up by the Culture Department.

In view of Nabakalebara of the Trinity at Jagannath temple in Puri, an exhibition hall will be opened on the Archives premises where all Government records available on the past seven Nabakalebara festivals (1863, 1893, 1931, 1950, 1969, 1978 and 1996) will be put on display.

On the occasion of the International Archives Day on Tuesday, a state-of-the-art conservation laboratory will be opened at the Odisha State Archives, which will be used for preservation of paper records collected over the years by the institution.

In the first phase, over six lakh records in shape of volumes, loose sheets, files, old gazettes, maps and newspapers housed in the Archives would be conserved at the laboratory. All these records belong to the period of 1803 to 1963 containing valuable information on the freedom struggle, creation of Odisha province, natural calamities, first settlement in the State and account of the social customs prevailing during the earlier time such as Sati and human sacrifice.

“Some of the records of historical value have been acquired from private sources such as the kings, zamindars, religious institutions and freedom fighters. Many of these have been collected from various offices such as the Governor’s secretariat, district collectorates and the subordinate offices. Preservation of these records is necessary for the State as they contain crucial information,” said head of the institution Bhagyalipi Malla. On the occasion, a workshop would be organised where students from Utkal University will get hands-on training on ways to preserve records. “The attempt is to make the youngsters realise the importance of the archives. They will be taught cleaning and laminating records using simple tools,” said Malla.

Apart from inviting college students from across the State to attend workshops at the State Archives, a one-month course on the conservation process will also be initiated. “We are trying to promote the State Archives so that more people, especially youngsters, come here and read the publications to know more about the State’s heritage,” said Culture Minister Ashok Panda.

Two kiosks will also be inaugurated on the occasion where people can listen to the recordings of 28 freedom fighters of the State sharing their experiences of the freedom struggle.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Lab-on-Conserving-Paper-Records-to-Open-Today/2015/06/09/article2857255.ece

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Idol Carving Process Begins in Puri

Gajapati Dibysingha Dev handing over ‘gua’ (holy betelnut) to chief Purohit of Swotriya Brahmins | express

PURI: The process for carving the new idols of Jagannath temple here began on Friday with the Daitapatis shifting four trunks of holy neem trees (Darus) from Darugruha to the construction yard in Koili Baikuntha on the temple premises.

As per tradition, Gajapati Dibyasingha Dev handed over the ‘gua’ (holy betelnut) to the chief Purohit of Swotriya Brahmins through Rajguru giving them the permission to conduct the yajna at the Koili Baikuntha close to the idol construction site.

As part of the ‘Antah Banajaga’, 75 Swotriya Brahmins would perform the yajna that would continue till construction of the idols of four deities ends.

During the first phase of ‘Anasara’, 10 Biswakarmas would carve the images of all three deities and Lord Sudarshan as per the instruction of senior Daitapatis. After the idols are completed, the Gajapati would offer Purnahuti on Chaturdashi day of the Hindu calendar on June 15. The new idols would then be placed facing the old ones in the ‘Anasara Gruha’.

On June 15 midnight, senior Daitapatis would transfer the Holy Brahma from the old idols to the new idols and the old idols would be buried in Koili Baikuntha. The new idols would be taken out during the annual Rath Yatra scheduled on July 18.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Idol-Carving-Process-Begins-in-Puri/2015/06/06/article2851929.ece

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Preparations begin for annual chariot festival in Puri

Puri, June 07 (ANI): Preparations began for the annual chariot festival of the presiding deities of the famed Lord Jagannath temple in Puri city. The festival commemorates the annual journey by Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Lady Subhadra in specially made chariots to Gundicha temple, two kilometres away from the Puri temple. The deities are expected to undertake the journey in a religious procession on July 18, in newly built chariots which are now being made in the temple premises. Nabakalebara is the ritual to replace the idols of the three presiding deities at the Jagannath temple with new idols made using sacred wood. It was last held in 1996. Devotees from across India and abroad converge in Puri to take part in this ritual which is usually held once in 12 to 19 years.

http://www.aninews.in/videogallery2/38457-preparations-begin-for-annual-chariot-festival-in-puri.html

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Chaos cloud on Puri fest

Expansion work in progress on NH-203. Picture by Sarat Patra Puri, May 28: Nearly 10,000 buses, 1.5 lakh cars, one lakh autorickshaws, three lakh motorcycles and 30 lakh pilgrims are expected to arrive here on the occasion of Nabakalebar and rath yatra on July 17 and 18. However, cops are in a tizzy as the lack of parking places threatens to plunge festivities into chaos. "The administration has earmarked 30 parking spaces that at best can accommodate 10,000 buses, two lakh motorcycles and 50,000 cars. This is besides Puri's count of one lakh two-wheelers, 12,000 four-wheelers and 7,000 autorickshaws. It's going to be a tough affair," said a police official responsible for traffic management during the mega festival. The major worry is that the five major parking places, including the new bus stand at Malatipatpur, are on the outskirts of the city, while the main bus stand is 8km away. Besides, the government is expecting nearly 200 special trains, which will bring in three lakh pilgrims to the city on July 17 and 18, which coincides with rath yatra. Although the train timings will be staggered to ensure that there is no jam on the tracks, the travel between the three railway stations in the city and on its outskirts will add to pressure on the road traffic. "It is going to be chaotic when people in big processions will walk into the town from these places," said an official. "Major infrastructure works in the city, including road expansion, are yet to be completed and the monsoon is expected to hit the state in mid-June. All branch roads in the city have been dug up either for cabling work or to build sewer lines. If not finished on time, these will cause traffic chaos in the coming days," said a localresident. On Wednesday, at a meeting of the rath yatra co-ordination committee, there were uproarious scenes with local residents criticising the administration for its failure to complete the projects in time. The issue of traffic chaos has come to the fore after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expressed its inability before Orissa High Court earlier this month to complete the expansion project. To avoid traffic chaos, the state government had planned to build two bypass roads. While one is nearing completion, the progress on the other one connecting Malatipatpur near Puri to Satpada being executed by the NHAI is yet to be over. However, to avoid traffic chaos, an NHAI official said the 10km bypass road would have two lanes instead of four as planned earlier to meet the Nabakalebar deadline. While 5km of the road would be made metallic, the rest would be kachha for the moment. Director-general of police Sanjeev Marik today visited Puri and inspected probable parking sites for vehicles and instructed the officials to complete the pending works by June. "Traffic management is going to be a tough challenge for us. We are working hard to ensure that everything goes off smoothly. We will face the challenge," Marik said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150529/jsp/frontpage/story_22770.jsp#.VWkvRSS9ZJ4

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Demolition begins to widen road around Jagannath temple

The Puri district administration today along with police and magistrate today began demolishing the buildings situated in the close proximity to the Jagannath temple compound to widen the road extra thirty feet around the temple. It was resolved in the high level meeting to widen the road around the temple to facilitate smooth movement of pilgrim traffic. The district administration had initiated land acquisition proceedings but twenty one persons had agitated the issue in the high court and obtained the stay order. Later, the High court vacated the stay order and disposed their pleas on Wednesday last. The district administration today demolished one Hajuri building and Sana-Chhata mutt buildings by thirty feet. The operation would continue till the road was widened by thirty feet,official sources said.

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20150530/2605433.html

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Police to launch App for tourists to Puri

BHUBANESWAR: Police are all set to launch a mobile-based application that will help tourists navigate the crowded streets of Puri, look for hotels and get updates on traffic situation during Nabakalebara.

"The App is almost ready and will be launched soon. Tourists will get live updates on the traffic situation during the festive rush. They can also lodge complaints on lost belongings. These will automatically be transferred to the control room in Puri," DGP Sanjeev Marik told TOI.

On Thursday, Marik inaugurated the official website of Puri police (www.puripolice.nic.in). In December last year, Puri police launched its Facebook page and started a toll-free number (18002002524) to receive grievances during Nabakalebara.

Marik, who was in Puri to oversee security arrangements, said over 10,000 personnel, almost double the manpower mobilized during annual Rath Yatra, are likely to be deployed for the mega festival. He was accompanied by seven other senior IPS officers,

More than 150 closed circuit television cameras will be installed in and around Jagannath Temple. At present, the shrine complex has 16 surveillance cameras."A total of 32 CCTV cameras will be installed inside the temple and the rest on the Grand Road, where the chariots will roll," said SP (Puri) Ashish Singh.

Police have also decided to install baggage scanners at the four entrance to the temple to check gunny bags, carrying vegetables, grocery items and wood into the shrine for preparing Mahaprasad.

Two quick rapid action teams have been formed to effectively combat crisis' situations (hostage or Maoist/terrorist strikes).

The 12th century Jagannath Temple is among the high-risk category temples in the country.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Police-to-launch-App-for-tourists-to-Puri/articleshow/47469322.cms

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Puri seer dares Odisha govt to name, punish officials who insulted him

Emboldened by the Shree Mandir managing committee’s decision to invite him with six of his disciples to have darshan of the Lords atop the chariots during the annual Rath Yatra, Shankaracharya of Govardhanpeeth Jagadguru Swami Nischalananda Saraswati has dared the Odisha government to spell out the names of the officials who had conspired against him since 2014 till date and demanded action against them.

Shankaracharya Swami Nischalanand Saraswati

The Puri Shankaracharya has told Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb on these lines during the Gajapati’s visit to Govardhanpeeth on Wednesday with a delegation of the temple managing committee members to invite him for the darshan of the Lords on Debasnana Purnima at the snana mandap and during the Rath Yatra atop chariots, revealed a member of the delegation who had accompanied the Gajapati.

The Jagadguru also told the Gajapati in clear terms that there should be no repeat of the 2014 incident and the temple managing committee’s decision should not turn out to be hoax. For the purpose, the state government in accordance with the Supreme Court, High Court and Record of Rights spell out its rights and make it public, the member further revealed.

A press statement of the Govardhanpeeth has said that a delegation consisting of Gajapati Maharaja Dibya Singha Deb, members of Shree Mandir managing committee and Mukti Mandap visited the mutt on Wednesday and met the Shankaracharya.

The Gajapati Maharaja told the Shankaracharya that the letter issued by the administration in 2014 was inappropriate. The Maharaja assured the seer that no such act will be repeated in the future. Keeping with his wishes and tradition, six of his disciples will be allowed to mount the chariots and have darshan of the Lords atop the chariots.

The Maharaja further told the seer that on the occasion of Snana Purnima the seer with six of his disciples will have darshan of the Lords. The Maharaja informed the Shankaracharya that the decisions were unanimously adopted at the temple managing committee’s meeting.

http://odishasuntimes.com/129825/puri-seer-dares-odisha-govt-to-name-punish-officials-who-insullted-him/

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