Odisha Nabakalebara for Goddess Laxmi too this year

Sambad English Bureau Published On : May 14, 2015 at 1:26 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, May 14:

Along with the Nabakalebara of Lord Sudarshan, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, the administration of the world-famous Lord Jagannath temple in Odisha’s holy town of Puri is planning to go for Nabakalebara of Goddess Laxmi too this year.

Odisha: Hindol MLA Simarani Nayak joins BJP after quitting BJD

At least 124 hospitalised, 1 dead in Odisha due to intense heatwave

“Since some portions of the idol of the Goddess have been damaged, there is a need for the Nabakalabare of the Goddess”, said Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administration Suresh Chandra Mohapatra today.

He said SJTA would take a decision on the matter after a meeting between the Puri Gajapati Mahajara Divyasingh Dev with the Mahajan and Puspalak Nijog, Daitapati Nijog and Mukti Mandap Pandit Mahasabha.

The Mukti Mandap Pandit Mahasabha, in its reports to the SJTA, has recommended the Nabakalebara of Goddess Laxmi as some parts of the idol of the Goddess have been damaged, the SJTA chief said.

However, the process for Nabakalebara of Goddess Laxmi has begun even before a formal decision is taken in this regard.

Reports said work on the construction of a mandap for Nabakelabara of Goddess Laxmi, besides the seven mandaps for the Nabakelabara of Lord Sudarshan, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, has already been constructed at Koili Baikuntha.

As per available information, the new idol of Goddess Laxmi would be made from the daru of Devi Subhadra.

It may be mentioned that there was a proposal for construction of a gold idol of Goddess Laxmi before 1973.

Acting on the proposal, the idol of the Goddess was made with three kg of gold in 1973. However, the idol is now kept inside the Ratna Bhandara of the temple due to a dispute between the Puja Panda servitors and temple servitors over who would install it.

Considering the prolonged dispute, an alterative plan has been taken by the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth which is supported by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri.

Reliable sources said that a team of representatives, with permission from the Gajapati Maharaja, had gone to Adhangagada where they had a discussion with the Banajaga daitapatis for construction of the new idol of Goddess Laxmi from a portion of daru identified for Devi Subhadra.