SALEPUR: The group of 14 Banajagis, escorting the ‘Daru’ to Puri, reached Nanpur under Cuttack district at 8 pm on Wednesday. Due to rain, the Sagadi (cart) carrying the Daru had to be stationed at Badachaura Chhack near Sarala temple in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday. With the rain not subsiding, the Banajagis resumed the journey around 7 pm. The cart was pulled towards the Cuttack-Paradip State Highway by devotees and the 14 Banajagis with five platoons of police force escorting the ‘Daru’. In the night, the Banajagis stayed at Madanmohan temple in Raghunathpur block. As the cart approached Cuttack-Paradip State Highway, devotees lined up to offer prayer to the Daru. The road stretches were decorated with ‘rangoli’ and flowers and new sarees had been spread on the roads to welcome the cart and Banajagis.
At Nanpur, the Banajagis were welcomed by Cuttack Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra, SP (Rural) Guru Das Kunda and other higher officials. They stayed at Nahakani Upper Primary School at Ramakumarpur under Arilo gram panchayat in the night.
The Cuttack administration had made elaborate arrangements at the school for the Banajagis.