Timber for Lord Jagannatha's Idol Reaches Puri

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

May 22, 2015 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — A wave of euphoria swept along the Grand Road in Puri as the holy Neem wood for creation of the idol of Lord Jagannath for Nabakalebara reached the 12th Century shrine on Friday. Braving scorching heat and humidity, a sea of humanity gathered and caught glimpse of the sacred timber.

The ambience resembled the annual car festival. From early morning, devotees in droves took positions on the spacious Grand Road, which was choked for nearly six hours till the wood entered the temple around 12 pm. Devotees jostled for space and tried to touch the wood-laden cart, which started its journey from Kharipadia in Jagatsinghpur on May 14.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

"It was a lifetime experience to witness the procession and touch the timber. For us it is impossible to touch the Deities in temple. I am elated after touching the wood as the same timber would be converted into Lord Jagannath," said Prashant Tripathy, a devotee.

The Grand Road wore a bridal look as devotees painted the road with rangolis, flowers and colourful sarees. Noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a huge sand painting in front of Gundicha Temple to mark the entry of the wood into Puri. "Through my art, I wanted to welcome the Banajaga Yatris and devotees, who walked all the way from Jagatsinghpur to Puri with the wood," Pattnaik said.

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Amidst chanting of 'Jai Jagannath' and beating of gongs, the wood was taken to Koili Baikuntha garden in the temple. Timbers of Sudarshan reached Jagannath Temple on April 24, Balabhadra's on May 5 and Subhadra's on May 12. Construction of the Deities will start on June 5 at Koili Baikuntha.

With the arrival of Lord Jagannath's timber at the temple, the curtain came down on Banajaga Yatra, the most vital ritual of Nabakalebara. Around 100 Daitapati priests of the temple had embarked on Banajaga Yatra (search of Neem trees for idol-making) on March 29. After invoking the blessing of Goddess Mangala at Kakatpur, the servitors fanned out in different districts in groups and looked for Neem trees. While Sudarshan's tree was located at Gadakantunia on city outskirts, Balabhadra's tree was selected at Kanakpur, Subhadra's at Adangagada and Jagananth's at Kharipadia (all three in Jagatsinghpur district).

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]