Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri on Tuesday approved the ritual schedule for ensuing Rath Yatra on July 7 cleared by Chhatisa Nijog, a confederation of servitors of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, the previous day.
“The meeting discussed and approved the schedule for the annual Rath Yatra. We also had an threadbare discussion on the arrangements being made for the same,” SJTA chief administrator Vir Vikram Yadav told reporters.
This year, only sevayat families will be able to witness Nabajouban Besha of the sibling deities inside the temple as the ritual along with Netra Utsav and Rath Yatra will be performed on the same day (July 7). It has also been decided to do away with the ticketing system for ‘Pahandi Bije’ of the Lords.
Nabajouban Darshan and Netra Utsav are usually observed on two separate days preceding Rath Yatra.
Accordingly, the ‘agyanmala’ for annual festival will be brought from Pati Dian on July 6 and not Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. “As per Niladri Mahodaya, the Lords reside in Patabrahma during this period and offerings are made to it during the Anabasara ritual. Accordingly, ‘agyanmala’ will be brought from Pati Dian after ‘Sakala Dhupa’ (morning meal) on July 6,” said Madhav Pujapanda, a servitor.
The last such arrangement was done in view of a specific celestial arrangement in 1971.
The SJTA has also directed sevyats to remain prepared for the rituals well in advance for smooth conduct of the festival.
On July 7, rituals will begin with ‘Mangal Alati’ at 2 am and ‘Netra Utsav Bandhapana’ would be performed at 4 am. The Daitapati servitors will carry out ‘Chhenapatta Lagi Seva’ (fixing of body armour on the deities to bear the stress during ‘pahandi’) from 7.30 am to 12 pm. Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra would be brought from sanctum sanctorum to their respective chariots in the ‘pahandi bije’ ritual between 1.10 pm and 2.30 pm, when the devotees will finally be able to catch a glimpse of the Lords after Snana Purnima on June 22.
Chhera pahanra by Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb is scheduled for 4 pm. The devotees will start pulling the chariots at 5 pm instead of the usual 3 pm given this year’s special circumstances.
Since chariots are not pulled after sunset, it will be halted at 6 pm and resumed the following day.
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