Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 17: Almost a week after the identification of the daru of Lord Sudarshan at Gadakantunia under Balianta block along old Jagannth Sadak on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the daru of Lord Balabhadra was identified near the shrine of Goddess Sarala at Jhankada in Jagatsinghpur district Friday.
The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) made a formal announcement to this effect Friday morning after being briefed by the leader of Banajaga dalapati Haladhara Dasmohapatra Thursday evening.
The Banajaga team leader informed SJTA chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra after carefully studying the symptoms of the daru of Lord Balabhadra and consulting with the Banajaga daitapatis.
“SJTA formally made the announcement after receiving a communication from the dalapati on the identification of daru for Balabhadra late Thursday. I reached the temple of Goddess Sarala early this morning along with senior police officials. We have finalised the location for construction of Shabarapalli (camp) for the Banajaga yatris and yajna near the daru for rituals, which have started. We have also discussed the security and traffic arrangements,” Mohapatra said.
Elaborate security and traffic arrangements are being made to ensure the safety of visitors and smooth conduct of the rituals at Sarala temple, according to the inspector general of police (east) Asit Panigrahi. Fifteen platoons of police force would be deployed under the supervision of the district superintendent of police, magistrate, two additional SPs, 53 sub-inspectors and nine inspectors.
“We expect a large crowd of devotees and have identified parking slots for vehicles coming from Jagatsinghpur, Paradip, Kendrapara and Cuttack where policemen have been deployed. We have also made arrangements for the maintenance of law and order at Sarala temple,’’ said Panigrahi.