Ahead of the Banajaga Yatra of the lords, an 11-member managing committee has been constituted to win over the dissenting servitors for smooth conduct of the forthcoming Nabakalebar festival here.
Besides, a five-member team of servitors has been formed to take along the sulking members of the Daitapati Nijog (priests’ association) keeping in view the larger interest of the devotees.
The 11-member committee, thus formed, would oversee and ensure the pre-Nabakalebar preparations till conclusion of the grand festival, sources said.President, secretary, four Badagrahis and five senior and experienced members of the Daitapati Nijog are on-board the working group.
The resentment in the Daitapati Nijog has subsided for the time being and its members are expected to come out with a list of chosen servitors to participate in the Banajaga Yatra (the search for Daru (neem tree) for making of idols in a couple of days.
The team would comprise Dalapatis, Upadalapatis, Biswabasus, Bidyapatis, Badagrahis and other servitors of the Nijog. Based on the paraphernalia of the Banajaga Yatra, the servitors’ body would place its demand for financial assistance before the administration.The body is likely to seek `2 lakh per participating member for the Yatra, the sources said.
With the State Government yet to take a call on the issue of payments to servitors which was promised by it during the last Rath Yatra, the issue is likely to rear its head during the meeting with the administration for financial aid prior to the commencement of the Yatra.
The Daitapatis were peeved over the parsimonious compensation offer made by the Government for losses suffered by them in last year’s Rath Yatra in which devotees were barred from climbing atop chariots following a High Court order which upheld the Shankaracharya’s views that persons other than those connected with rituals should not go atop the chariots.
Setting aside the differences, the Daitapati Nijog has decided to conduct the Nabakalebar in a disciplined and peaceful manner. The Daitapatis play a vital role in the Nabakalebar process beginning from the Banajaga Yatra to the transfer of the Brahmas (the souls) of the idols.