Puri: In a big disappointment to devotees of Lord Jagannath, they will be barred from having divine Nabajouban darshan of deities at Srimandir in Puri after 14 days of Anansara (hibernation) rituals ahead of the annual Ratha Jatra this year.

"The Nabajouban darshan of Lord Jagannath will not be held this year as per the Ratha Jatra schedule decided at Chhatisa Nijog meeting. The temple administration approved this today," informed Vir Vikram Yadav, the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).

As the Netra Utsav, Nabajouban darshan and Ratha Jatra fall on the same day this year as per the Hindu almanac, the temple administration has decided to restrict devotees from entering the temple for Nabajouban darshan.

This was decided at the joint meeting of Niti sub-committee and Chhatisa Nijog held on Monday and the decision was approved by the Srimandir Managing Committee meeting chaired by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb at Niladri Bhakta Niwas in Puri today.

At the meeting, the temple managing committee also approved the schedules finalised at the Chhatisa Nijog meeting from Ratha Jatra to Niladri Bije.

As per the decision, the rituals of Ratha Jatra scheduled on July 7 will be performed in accordance with the rituals conducted in 1971. The chariot pulling will be held in the evening.

Besides, the Anasara rituals will be held 13 days this year. The secret rituals started from June 23, a day after Snana Jatra. As per the decisions, the Agyan Mala (permission) will be taken from the Pati Dian (Pattachitra paintings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra) to the chariot construction site on July 6 for the Ratha Jatra scheduled on July 7.

As per the schedule, three chariots will be taken to the front of Singhadwar on July 6. The Netra Utsav rituals will be held after dwarafita niti at 2 AM on July 7. The Mangal Arati will be conducted at 2 AM. The Gopalaballav and Khechudi Bhog will be served to deities between 6 AM and 7 AM after conducting rituals including Mailam and Abakash in wee hours. The Senapata Lagi ritual will be held between 7.30 AM and 12.30 PM. The chariots will be worshipped at 11 AM. The pahandi rituals will begin at 1.10 PM. The pahandi rituals are set to be completed by 2.30 PM. The idols of Madan Mohan and Rama Krushna will be placed on the chariots by 3 PM. The chhera pahanra ritual will be completed between 3 PM and 4 PM and the chariot pulling will be held at 5 PM.

Similarly, the Bahuda Jatra will be held on July 15. During this occasion, the pahandi will start from 12 PM and will be completed by 2.30 PM. The chariot pulling will be held at 4 PM. The Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath on the chariot will be held between 5 PM and 6.30 PM on July 17. The Adharapana ritual will be held at 8 PM on July 18. The Niladri Bije ritual will be held on July 19.