After being worshipped by millions for 19 long years, the wooden idols of the presiding deities of the Shree Jagannath temple here bade adieu to the Ratna Simhasana (bejewelled throne) and vacated it for the newly-carved idols after transfer of the Brahmapadartha (life substance) from them on Monday midnight as the major ritual for the lords' Nabakalebar.

Badagrahis (body protectors) of the four lords removed the Brahmapadartha from the old idols of lord Jagannath, lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and lord Sudarshan and placed them in the newly carved idols.

"It's a very difficult task to do as I have to part with the existing idols with whom I had such a close relationship of devotion and surrender. I am unable to stare at them. I am choked with emotion; my eyes are filled with tears whenever I look at them these days. I am preparing myself for that propitious moment when I shall be transferring the Brahmapadartha from the old idol of lord Jagannath to that of the new idol as the Badagrahi," Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, Mukhya Badagrahi of lord Jagannath, said on Sunday, his voice choking with emotion.

"After Purnaahuti, certain other rituals will be completed before the Brahmapadartha Parivartan of the lords. We will move as per our plans, but we can't say what He wishes. It is only His wish which prevails and nothing else," said Haladhar Das Mohapatra, Mukhya Badagrahi of lord Balabhadra and also the Dalapati (team leader) of the Banajaga Dal, before the highly secret and divine act was performed.

 "This is the blessing of the lord. Unless one is blessed by the Mother (Devi Subhadra), one cannot do such a job. With everyone's support and cooperation, I have wished to do it," said Rama Chandra Das Mohapatra, Mukhya Badagrahi of Devi Subhadra.

According to tradition, the Shree Mandir and its surrounding is shut  for outsiders before the Brahmapadartha Parivartan. Tadau Karana and  Deula Karana (temple clerk servitors) guard the Simhadwara (lion's Gate) of the temple during the period.

Puri King Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Dev, considered the first servitor of the lords, offers Purnaahuti (final oblation to the sacred fire) at a Mahayagna held inside the Koilibaikuntha. "Everything is being done as prescribed in the scriptures. All rituals are being done in perfect order," said Padmanav Mohapatra , a senior priest of the temple.

As per the procedure followed, eyes and hands (up to elbows) of the servitors conducting the secret ritual of Brahmapadartha Parivartan are covered with cloth-bands so that they can't touch and see the Brahmapadarthas at the time of their transfer, which is done in the dead of the night. Before transfer of the Brahmapadarthas, a special Bhoga (prasad /offering) is offered to the deities/old idols known as 'Sarbanga Panti Bhog'. This is the last 'Bhoga' of the old idols. Raghabdas Mutt, Puri, bears the entire expenditure of the Bhog, said sources in the know of the procedures.

"There is not going to be a power cut in the entire Puri town on Monday. Only the temple and areas adjoining it will be kept under darkness. As per schedule, Daitapati sevayats will enter the temple premises around 8 pm to 9 pm. After completing Brahmapadartha Parivartan and other secret rituals, the Daitapati servitors will come out of the temple premises next day morning," informed Shree Jagannath.

As per time-honoured practice, the old idols are buried in Koili Baikuntha (also known as the graveyard of the deities) inside the temple premises. The process of burying of the old idols is known as patali ritual.

Noted sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik created a sand sculpture on the Puri beach on Sunday afternoon to mark the momentous occasion.