post news network
Raghunathpur, May 9: The holy Neem tree at Kharipadia village under the block in Jagatsinghpur district designated as ‘daru’ for Lord Jagannath came down with a resounding thud in the Aishanya (the domain of Gods) corner as cries of Haribol and ululations by devotees rent the air Saturday.
The daru, earlier sanctified by learned Brahmins, was felled after Biswabasu and Bidyapati servitors brought a golden axe and silver axe each and brought them in contact with the Neem tree.
Later, the Biswakarma servitors axed the ‘daru’ with their iron axe. It was a five-hour effort which finally brought the majestic tree crashing to the ground. This was stated here by Biswabasu Binayak Das Mohapatra while speaking to mediapersons at the ‘daru’ site Saturday.
The daru site was chock-a-block as lakhs of devotees thronged Kharipadia village to pay obeisance to the ‘daru’ and to have a last glimpse of the Neem tree which locals claimed to be more than 120 years old.
Earlier during the day, Srotiya Brahmans started the rituals of Surya puja, Gopuja (worshipping of cows) and worshipping of various deities before starting the final part of the Yajna preceding the felling of the ‘daru’ after sunrise.
They offered ghee as ‘Ahuti’ to the raising fire of the Yajna to the recitation of Patali Nrusingha ‘mantras’. While 600 Patali Nrusingha mantras were recited Friday, Ahuti was offered with 408 mantras Saturday. Apart from Srotiya Brahmans, Acharya, Bidyapati, Biswabasu, Badagrahis and Daita servitors participated in the Yajna rituals.
Meanwhile, an air of spirituality and frenzied devotion gripped the surroundings as scores of devotees from in and around the state made a beeline to witness the ‘daru’.
They were seen lying down on the ground at the daru site and applying the soil to their foreheads with tears rolling down their eyes.
