JAGATSINGHPUR: With the entire State in grip of religious fervour for ensuing Nabakalebara, a mere hint about the Darus (holy Neem trees) for carving new idols of Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra at two villages in the district led to a beeline of devotees on Monday.
On Sunday, Biswabasu and Bidyapati of Banajaga team, who visited Sarala temple to take stock of preparation for felling of Daru for Lord Balabhadra, informally announced that a holy Neem tree at Adhang village under Biridi block and another at Kharipadia village under Raghunathpur block had been selected for carving the idols of Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
Bidyapati Narasingh Pati Mahapatra and Biswabasu Binayak Dasmahapatra said the holy signs as per Madalapanji have been identified in the two trees. “We will inform Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Suresh Chandra Mohapatra about selection of the Darus,” they said. According to norms, the SJTA will officially announce the Darus for the deities.
Servitor of Nilakantheswar temple Naba Kishore Raul said Daitapatis of Banajaga team visited the holy tree at Adhang three times and were satisfied after finding the holy signs on it. “We hope that the Daru will be selected for Devi Subhadra’s idol and have started performing puja,” he said.
Similarly, village chief of Kharipadia Krushna Chandra Mallick said the Banajaga team visited the holy Neem tree in the village five times and found holy signs on it. After the team’s last visit on Saturday, the villagers saw two snakes moving around the tree. Two white owls have also been found sitting on its branches regularly, he added.
Collector Satya Kumar Mallick said both Bidyapati and Biswabasu have informed the mediapersons about the selection of Darus for Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath. But the administration has not received any intimation in this regard as yet, he added.
However, after the informal announcement by the two members of Banajaga team, thousands of devotees thronged Adhang and Kharipadia to see the holy Neem trees and offer prayer. On Sunday, around 25,000 devotees visited Raghunathpur and their number increased substantially on Monday.
Meanwhile, in absence of any official arrangement, the villagers have volunteered to control the traffic and guide the devotees to the site of Darus safely. They have also erected bamboo barricade for smooth darshan at Kharipadia.