Chief Secretary GC Pati on Monday held discussions with Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb here on the progress of the various preparatory works relating to the coming Nabakalebar festival and beautification of the Shree Mandir and the Grand Road.
“It was a general meeting on Shree Mandir’s development. We discussed how various projects going on for Nabakalebar Festival can be expedited. The Gajapati gave his opinion on certain issues and projects,” Pati told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting assumes significance when problems of Daitapatis (servitors), including pending compensation of the last year’s Rath Yatra, are yet to be sorted out ahead of Banagaja Yatra, a ritualistic search drive for daru (neem tree) for making of idols of lord Jagannath, lord Balabhandra and Devi Subhadra.
Only 34 days are left for the yatra, which is considered beginning of the whole Nabakalebar process, to begin. Notably, Daitapatis play a vital role in the whole Nabakalebara process starting from the Banajaga yatra to the transfer of the Bramha (soul) into newly-made idols.
The administration has failed to persuade Daitapatis, who are still to get compensation promised by the State Government for losses borne out of barring devotees to climb atop the three Rathas during the last car festival. Sources said the Daitapatis are not cooperating with the administration for the Banajaga Yatra on this account.
The Daitapatis were yet to be contacted for making a list of materials and about tour of the daru-search team, sources added. On the other hand, Daitapatis Nijog has begun preparations for the yatra on its own. It has announced formation of different committees for Nabakalebar, including one meant for search of daru, sources added.
“We will conduct Nabakalebar Festival in a disciplined manner but not as per the wishes of the administration,” the Nijog had earlier said. The Nabakalebar Festival mainly comprises of Banajaga Yatra, which includes daru identification, their worship at site and return procession to the Shreekshetra, Mahaanabasar after Snana Purnima, Rath Yatra, Bahuda Yatra and Sunabesha.
According to sources, the administration has finalised the route through which the Banajaga Yatra team would go and the places where it would stay en route.