Nandapur, July 18 [UDN}: A meeting was held on Friday to discuss the smooth conduct of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations at the Jagannath Temple located in the Nandapur block headquarters.
The meeting was attended by Debottar Committee President and Tahsildar Debabrata Maharana, Additional Tahsildar Madhab Pangi, Police Station Officer-in-Charge Trinath Totapadia, Excise OIC Raju Khiti, Revenue Inspector Madhusudan Khemundu, former Sarpanch Jagannath Pangi, Gopal Matam, members of the Brahmin, Nijog and Gauda communities, temple servitor and priest Anil Panda, and priest Raj Kishore Rath, among others.
During the meeting, the estimated budget for the Rath Yatra was unanimously approved. The Tahsildar announced the detailed schedule of rituals prepared by the temple priests.
According to the schedule:
– July 14: Netrotsava (Ceremony of the Lord’s Eyes)
– July 15: Nabajaubana Darshan (First public appearance after Anasara)
– July 16: Installation of the chariots for Gundicha Yatra, followed by Pahandi and Chhera Pahanra rituals, with the chariot pulling scheduled at 3:07 PM
– July 20: Hera Panchami celebrations with distribution of Mahaprasad and the traditional “Ratha Bhanga” ritual of Goddess Lakshmi in the evening
– July 23: Southward turning of the chariots (Dakshina Moda)
– July 24: Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival)
– July 25: Suna Besha (Golden Attire) ceremony on the chariots, followed by a devotional bhajan programme in the evening
– July 26: Adharapana ritual
– July 27: Niladri Bije, marking the return of the deities to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple
The committee advised all members, servitors, and priests to remain vigilant and ensure the smooth and proper conduct of every ritual associated with the festival.
Debottar Committee members Surendra Khemundu, Tushar Kanta Mahanti, Lingaraj Choudhury, Yudhishthir Khara, Lokanath Choudhury, and others were also present during the meeting.
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