Balabhadra Daru Leaves for Puri

By Express News Service

Published: 29th April 2015 06:03 AM

Last Updated: 29th April 2015 06:03 AM

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  Devotees and Banajaga Yatris pull the Sagadi carrying Daru for Lord Balabhadra from Sarala temple to Puri on Tuesday I EXPRESS Photo

JAGATSINGHPUR: Heavy rain accompanied by strong wind in the district forced Banajagis to stop journey of the Daru of Lord Balabhadra to Puri from Kanakpur here for around one hour on Tuesday.

A group of 14 Banajagis, escorting the ‘Daru’, embarked on the journey to Puri from the Sarala temple here in the evening but they had to stop after travelling for just 100 metres as incessant rain started lashing the area. Unable to move forward, the cart had to be stationed at Badachaura Chhack near the Sarala temple in the evening. With the rain not subsiding, the Banajagis decided to resume 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 a temple in Jaipur village under Tirtol block.

Last week, Daitapatis performed secret rituals on the ‘Daru’ and Biswakarmas (carpenters) prepared the Sagadi, from Banyan, Tendu and Tamarind wood. The ‘Daru’ was resized to ‘Chaupata’, a rectangular solid block made out of the holy Neem tree trunk, and wrapped with seven layers of silk cloth. The wood block was then fastened to the Sagadi with ropes made of ‘Basunga Pata’ prepared by Patera Bisoyi servitors.

While one group of servitors went with the Daru, the rest left for Nilakantheswar temple in Adhanga village under Biridi block of the district late in the evening.

The Banajaga team members will cover 10 km in the morning and 15 km in the noon. After the journey on Wednesday, the Banajagis will stay at another temple in Raghunathpur block in the night. The district administration has made adequate arrangements at the temple for the Banajagis.

The Sabarapalli camp at Kanakpur where Daitapatis and Swotriya Brahmins had put up and the Yajna Mandap near the Sarala temple wore a deserted look after the departure of the Banajagis. “This has been once in a lifetime experience for many of us. After the Daitas left the temple, the atmosphere has become extremely emotional,” said Renubala Raul, a native of Kanakpur village.

President of Daitapati Niyog Ramkrushna Dasmohapatra said the ‘ajnamala’ (go ahead) of Devi Subhadra arrived at Nilakantheswar temple in Adhanga village from the Jagannath temple in Puri. Although rain water entered the Sabarapalli erected near the temple, rituals like ‘Ankuraropan’ and ‘Daru Sodhan’ at the tree selected for Devi Subhadra’s idol will be performed on Wednesday, which will be followed by Mahayajna and ‘Purna Ahuti’. After this, ‘Daru Chhedana’ would begin.

This time, Nabakalebara is being observed in Jagannath temples at Balikuda, Sarba Mangala Peetha in Sarambaoo, Sarala temple in Kanakpur, Paradip, Gadakujang, Nuagaon and Patenigaon in the district.