Post News Network
Puri: The holy log (daru) of Lord Sudarshan Friday reached the Srimandir here amid religious
fervour. The cart laden with the daru has been parked inside the ‘Darugruha’ at Koili Baikuntha on Srimandir premises.
According to sources, the daru-laden cart had reached near goddess Alamchandi temple on the city outskirts Thursday night. Thousands flocked the temple to catch a glimpse of the holy log. The Daita servitors accompanying the cart spent the night in a makeshift restroom in the locality.
The daru-laden cart was pulled towards the Jagannath temple after Daita servitors completed the requisite rituals at Alamchandi temple Friday morning. Devotees pulled the cart on the Grand Road amid beatings of cymbals and blowing of conchs. The cart reached near Srimandir passing through Hospital Square and Laxmi Bazaar.
Daita servitors carried the cart to Koili Baikuntha through the North Gate or Elephant Gate of the temple. The North Gate of Srimandir is popularly known as ‘Debajana Marga’. According to religious scriptures, deities from heaven used to visit the temple through this gate.
A group of Daita servitors including Nabakishore Pati Mahapatra, Premananda Das Mahapatra, Gunadhar Das Mahapatra, Bijayananda Das Mahapatra, Bijaykrushna Das Mahapatra, Bhabani Das Mahapatra and Gangadhar Pati Mahapatra accompanied the daru-laden cart from Gadakantunia in Balakati to Srimandir.
A sea of humanity was at the Badadanda to have a ‘darshan’ of the holy log. Police threw a security cordon around the cart to avoid any untoward incident. The district administration had deployed eight platoons of armed police forces for the smooth transport of the holy log. Altogether two ASPs, a deputy commandant, four DSPs, four inspectors and 10 sub-inspectors were deployed to maintain law and order. SP Ashis Singh supervised the security arrangements, said DSP Prabhat Routray.
Srimandir sources said all arrangements are in place for the carving of idols. Four makeshift houses (Darugruhas) have been installed
at Koili Baikuntha. The daru-laden carts will be preserved at Darugruha till the commencement of idol carving at the ‘Nirmana Mandap’, said senior Daita servitor Ramachandra Das Mahapatra.
The holy log will be offered puja daily after the completion of Madhyanh Dhoopa ritual of the presiding deities. Priests will offer banana and other fruits to the holy log. However, the offerings will not be distributed among devotees. Only, the Daita servitors are allowed to partake of the offerings as per Srimandir traditions, he added.