It's Only Change of Robes for Deities of Haribaldev Temple

BARIPADA:The Nabakalebara ritual in Baripada’s Jagannath temple - Sri Haribaldev Jew temple - is unique in several ways. Unlike the Jagannath temple in Puri, where new idols are carved for Lord Sudarshan and the Trinity from holy Neem trees, here only the ‘Anga Bastra’ (clothes) of the deities is replaced with new one.

The new clothes of the Trinity and Lord Sudarshan are made of thick cotton and the tradition is being followed since the temple was constructed.

Replacement of Anga Bastra will start five days after ‘Deva Snana Purnima’. Senior sevayat Jayanta Kumar Tripathy said the deities are also painted by senior artists of the temple during this period. The job is completed a day before the ‘Netra Utsav’.

Temple management sources said the tradition is being followed since the reign of Maharaja Baidyanath Bhanja, the founder of Sri Haribaldev Jew temple. The temple was built by the king in 1585.

According to a legend, when the king went to Puri in a royal splendour with ‘Chhatra’ and ‘Chamara’, the Gajapati of Puri refused to grant him permission to enter the town with his convoy. Since then, it has been customary for the royal family to go to Puri without any show of extravaganza in respect of the Puri Gajapati who is considered as Chalanti Vishnu (living God).

However, during his return journey Baidyanath Bhanja observed penance near Atharanala on the outskirts of Puri. At that time, he was ordered by Lord Jagannath in dream to construct a temple at Baripada.