Date: 13/06/2014
Time: 6:00 अपराह्न - 6:45 अपराह्न
Venue: IGNCA Auditorium, Media Centre,, New Delhi
Duration: 49 minutes Produced by IGNCA
The icons of Lord Jagannath and his companions in Jagannath Temple of Puri in Orissa are made of Neem wood. Ritualistically, these icons are made after an interval of 12/19 years. This ancient event revolves around Banajaga Yatra, the journey undertaken in search of the sacred log. Temple men known as Dayitas or Daitas, said to be descendents of Visavasu tribe of mythological origin, are authorized for this exercise. Many rituals are followed before the tree is axed. Most important point to be noted is that in this process a new sapling is planted on the spot where the Neem tree was axed – a gesture of balancing the nature.
Director: Shri Prithviraj Mishra