Meet held for review of items for Nabakalebar
A meeting of the executives of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Sevayats was held here to discuss some important issues pertaining to collection of Basuki Patta (silk saree), sandalwood and Kasturi (deer musk) for the ensuing Nabakalebar.
These are basically needed for use of Sri Jagannath in daily rituals like Chandan lagi, Banakalagi (Srimukha Sringara) and during the Nabakalebara. The meeting revealed that while there is no problem to arrange the silk sarees and sandalwood, collection of Kasturi will be very difficult. The stock has been virtually exhausted now with the temple.
Kasturi in the past used to be provided by the Maharaja of Nepal for the service of the lords for which some special privileges were enjoyed by the King of Nepal in the Srimandir. However, after the change of Government in Nepal, supply of Kasturi to the Puri temple was stopped.
However, SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Aravinda Padhi earlier had discussed the matter with Chief Secretary who in turn took the matter with the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
The Government of India has written letter to the Government of Nepal and requested the latter to supply the deer musk for the Nabakalebara, reply of which is still awaited. The SJTA at present is having a very small quantity of the musk, only 30 grams in its stock, the meeting was told.