After FANI, regular-size holy flag affixed atop Sri Mandir

Puri: The charm and divinity returned to the centuries old Sri Mandir with its regular-size Patitapabana Bana (holy flag) that was affixed atop the shrine here today replacing the smaller one after Cyclone FANI.

The ‘Chunara’ servitors tied the 14-hand-long Patitapabana Bana to the Nilachakra (blue wheel made of metals) atop the Jagannath Temple for the devotees.

Earlier, the regular-size holy flag was replaced with a smaller one (five-hand-long) on May 1 to protect the temple in view of the extremely severe cyclonic storm FANI. However, the flag was blown away just a day before the cyclone hit Puri district.

FANI devastated the coastal Odisha with strong winds and rains after its landfall at Krushnaprasad area on May 3 in Puri. Even the pilgrim town could not be spared from the Nature’s fury that resulted in delay of daily rituals of deities for three hours during cyclone last week.