No ‘Nabajoubana Darshan’ for public

Puri: Bad news for devotees of Lord Jagannath. The managing committee of Jagannath temple has declared that no one will be allowed for the ‘Nabajoubana Darshan’ of the holy trinity – Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra – after their Nabakalebar in June this year.

The news came as a huge disappointment for the devotees from across the world who were eagerly waiting to see their beloved gods in their new embodiment after the once-in-a-blue-moon grand ritual.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator S.C. Mohapatra said devotees will not be allowed to have a glimpse of the Nabajuabana of the deities after Nabakalebar.

However, they can have the ‘darshan’ of the ‘Chaturdha Murti’ – idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan – on their chariots during Ratha Yatra which will be held just a day after Nabajoubana, Patnaik informed.

In a meeting of the managing committee held under the chairmanship of Puri royal Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb yesterday, the schedule of Nabakalebar Yatra was decided and the temple’s annual budget was discussed.

‘Ghata Paribartan’ of the ‘Chaturdha Murti’ will be held on June 15 whereas ‘Nabajaubana Darshan’ will be held on July 17. The world-famous Ratha Yatra will be organised on July 18.