Nandapur, July 13 [UDN}: A meeting was held on Friday to discuss the smooth conduct of the annual Rath Yatra at the Jagannath Temple located at the Nandapur block headquarters.
The meeting was attended by Endowment Committee President and Tahasildar Debabrata Maharana, Additional Tahasildar Madhab Pangi, IIC Trinath Totapadia, Excise OIC Raju Khiti, Revenue Inspector Madhusudan Khemundu, former Sarpanch Jagannath Pangi, Gopal Matam, members of the Brahmin, Nijog and Gauda communities, servitor priest Anil Panda, and priest Raj Kishore Rath, among others.
During the meeting, the estimated budget for the Rath Yatra was unanimously approved. The Tahasildar announced the schedule of rituals prepared by the temple priests for the festival.
According to the schedule:
– July 14: Netrotsava (ceremonial opening of the eyes of the deities)
– July 15: Nabajouban Darshan
– July 16: Establishment of the chariots for Gundicha Yatra, followed by Pahandi and Chhera Pahanra rituals, after which chariot pulling will commence at 3:07 PM
– July 20: Hera Panchami celebrations with distribution of Mahaprasad and the evening ritual of Goddess Lakshmi symbolically breaking the chariot
– July 23: Southward turning of the chariot
– July 24: Bahuda Yatra (return journey of the deities)
– July 25: Suna Besha (golden attire ceremony) on the chariot, followed by a devotional bhajan programme in the evening
– July 26: Adharapana ritual
– July 27: Niladri Bije ceremony marking the return of the deities to the temple sanctum
The officials advised committee members, servitors, and priests to remain vigilant to ensure that all rituals and ceremonies are conducted smoothly and according to tradition.
Endowment Committee members Surendra Khemundu, Tushar Kanta Mahanti, Lingaraj Choudhury, Yudhisthir Khara, Lokanath Choudhury and others were also present at the meeting.
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