A preparatory meeting for conducting the upcoming annual Rath Jatra of Sri Baladebjew, the supreme deity of Keonjhar, was held under the chairmanship of district Collector N Thirumala Naik here on Saturday.
Debottar Executive Officer Purna Chandra Mishra presented the last year’s income and expenditure details. He briefed that a sum of Rs 20 lakh was spent. Basing on this, a budget of Rs 30 lakh was approved to be spent this year.
Different sub committees were formed for smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra. Different line departments were instructed to make necessary arrangements for the expected huge crowd during the 10-day-long festival.
Some citizens urged the administration to safeguard the landed property of the deity. Out of 20,000 acre of land belonging to the deity, a majority of it has been encroached by different people, they complained.
It was decided to have three cultural stages instead of five last year. Different business houses and individuals would be requested to donate for the festival. A request letter to grant Rs 10 lakh for the festival expenditure was sent to the Commissioner of Debottar (Endowment) for approval. The OMC was requested to contribute handsomely for the Yatra,
Matters relating to decoration and building of a new chariot, procurement of rope, conduct of different Puja rituals, drinking water supply, electrification, health and sanitation, law and order, holding of Suna Besa, etc., were discussed at the meeting.
The Baladevjew Rath Yatra is being organised here since 1671 and is considered as the second biggest Rath Yatra in Odisha after the Puri festival. About a lakh devotees participate here. The wooden chariot is also the biggest in Odisha and the tribals pull the chariot by rope made of Siali creeper plants.
Since there is no Nabakalebar for change of idols, the same idols have been worshiped since centuries. Another remarkable difference is that Goddess Subhadra here is red in color instead of yellow and Baladebjew is the supreme deity instead of lord Jagganath as in Puri.