PURI: Servitors of the Jagannath temple and their family members, who would be associated with temple rituals in the future, will be allowed to have ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ of the Trinity.
This was informed by Chief Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Suresh Mohapatra after a meeting here on Tuesday.
Earlier, the SJTA had announced that ‘Nabajouban Darshan’ would not be allowed for public in order to avoid rush inside the Jagannath temple on July 17. The SJTA’s decision had been approved by the Temple Management Committee headed by Puri King Dibyasingha Dev. Subsequently, a PIL was filed in Orissa High Court by a social activist from Cuttack against the SJTA decision.
Mohapatra said since the PIL is pending in the High Court, the SJTA decided to allow family members of temple servitors, who would perform the rituals in future, to have ‘darshan’ of deities on the day.
At another meeting, Nabakalebara OSD Soumendra Priyadarshi, Law Minister Arun Sahoo, Mohapatra and SJTA officials reviewed the preparations for the Rath Yatra. They asked the Daitaptis and servitors to complete rituals related to the Rath Yatra on time.
The security forces on Tuesday held a mock drill of the five-layer security cover that would be put in place in Puri on Rath Yatra. The mock drill was conducted under the supervision of DGP, Sanjiv Marik. Functioning of CCTVs was also checked.
Meanwhile, the Biswakarmas (carpenters), Roopakaras (sculptors), Chitrakaras (painters) and Darjis (tailors) are busy giving final touches to the three chariots at the Ratha Khala (construction yard) on Grand Road.
While construction of chariots is almost over except for fixing of ‘Kalasha’ and ‘Parswa Debatas’ on the towering structures, carving of idols of smaller deities that would be fixed to the chariots is complete. Chitrakaras, too, have completed colouring the idols. This being the Nabakalebara year, a new set of ‘Sarathis’, wooden horses, ‘Parswa Debatas’, ‘Olata Suas’ have been constructed for the chariots, among other things. Ladders to the chariots have also been made anew. ‘Darjis’ are busy fixing brass artefacts to intricately embroidered green, black, yellow and red clothes that would cover the three chariots. At least 1250 metres of clothes are being used for the chariots.
BIG DAY AHEAD
■ Family members of servitors who would be associated with temple rituals in the future, will be allowed to have Nabajouban ‘darshan’
■ Biswakarmas (carpenters), Roopakaras (sculptors), Chitrakaras (painters) and Darjis (tailors) are busy giving final touches to the three chariots