The Banajaga team, comprising Daitapati servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri, arrived at the Deuli Mutt near Kakatpur on Thursday morning. The team, after having a night halt at the Shankareswar temple on Wednesday, resumed their journey in the early morning hours before reaching the Deuli Mutt after three hours covering a distance of about 18 km on foot. The team, on the fifth-day of the yatra, would stay overnight at the mutt before leaving for Kakatpur on Friday.
“As per the tradition, we will send Chitau (letter) to the servitors of the Maa Mangala temple (Kakatpur) about our arrival today. After receiving our letter, they will arrive at the Deuli Mutt at 9 am tomorrow and welcome us to the Maa Mangala temple where we will perform the Majana ritual and Yajna of the goddess. After the ritual, we will return to the mutt and perform Yajna and a series of rituals including the Swapneswar Mantra (hymn) to receive the order from the goddess about the location of Daru (wood) for the lords. After receiving the Swapnadesh of the goddess, we will leave the place in search of the Daru,” said Jayakrushna Dasmohapatra, a senior Banajaga team member.
Several people of the localit y welcomed the Banajaga team after it arrived at the Deuli Mutt. The district administration has made security arrangements in and around the mutt while the media is not allowed to enter into the mutt premises.