Puri: With cyclone Fani threat looming large on Odisha, especially in Puri, the administration of Puri Jagannath Temple has decided to replace the ‘Patitapabana Bana’ (temple flag) with a short flag as a precautionary measure for protection of the spoked wheel ‘Nilachakra’ atop the temple.
As per reports, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has directed the Chunara servitors, who conduct flag changing ritual at the 12th century shrine, to affix a smaller (five-hand-long) flag on Nilachakra instead of the regular one to ensure safety of the spoked wheel during the cyclone.
Servitors have also been directed to strongly wrap another secondary flag at the base of the Nilachakra in case the primary flag affixed on the spoked wheel snaps leading to hampering of temple rituals.
The Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) has predicted that cyclone ‘Fani’ is likely to cross Odisha through Satpada and Balukhand area in Puri district during the afternoon hours of May 3.