Puri, July 4: In a special interview with News7 ahead of the Rath Yatra, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri, Dibyasingh Deb the prime servior of the Lords said, Lord Jagannath, his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra with Lord Sudarshan and other deities, are worshipped according to the directives of Madala Panji, the special almanac of the Jagannath Cult. But sometimes, they are deviated..
Unlike in the past, the Anasara rituals, following the Snana Purnima(ceremonial bath) of the Trinity this year, were reduced by two days. It’s why the Anabasara Niti might conclude on the wee hours of Rath Yatra like that of 1971,
The Gajapati said that the Pahandi Bije and the Chhera Panhara Niti of the deities are likely to be delayed for the intervention of Anabasara Niti, which is expected to be winded up at about 1 pm on Sunday.
Regarding ban of public entry to the temple during the annual festivity, the prime servitor said, saying to address the quest of tens of thousands of visitors, expected to be on the Grand Road, all rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum would be prioritized ahead of the schedule. Thus, he urged the servitor communities, Shri Jagannath temple Administration (SJTA) officials and devotees to co-operate for a smooth Car Festival.
On the opening of the Ratna Bhandar, the Gajapati said, It’s righteous to open up Lord’s treasury during Rath Yatra. However, he clarified that decision to open the inner Ratna Bhandar and inventory of the gems and jewels, is yet under the disposal of the state. Repair and opening of the inner treasury of the Jagannath Temple depends on the statutory order of the government.
