The Nabakalebara ceremony, held in 2015, is a significant Hindu ritual in Puri, Odisha, involving the replacement of the wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra at the famous Jagannath Temple. This unique ceremony occurs only every 9 to 19 years, signifying the idols' 'birth' and 'death,' and entails a detailed process including the selection of sacred trees, idol construction, and ritualistic transference of divine essence. The event culminates in a grand celebration, attracting millions of devotees and marking a revival in the temple's daily routines.

1. NaBaKalebara - 2015
(Ceremony of New-Embodiment )
Of
Lord Jagannath of PURI
By
Ardhendu Sekhar Sinha

2. Away from the hustle and bustle of metro cities, in the eastern coast of India,
in the state of Odisha, near the sea shore of bay of Bengal, situated a city
named PURI. In this city, there lies a 11th century famous, sacred and grand
Hindu temple/Buddhist temple known as Jagannath temple. It is built on a
gigantic raised platform of stone rising to 214 feet (65 m) in the heart of the
city. The temple complex is enclosed by a wall about seven meters high -
including the height of the platform. The area of this platform is more than
4,20,000 sq.ft. The wall is impaled by four gates ,facing four directions. On
the East-facing gate, there are stone idols of two lions and it is called the
Lions Gate. The North, South and West facing gates are similarly known as
the Elephant Gate, the Horse Gate and the Tiger Gate (also called as Khanja
Gate) respectively.

3. The temple is the adobe of the most merciful, infinite loving, Lord of Universe Shree
Jagannath, incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme. In side the temple, He is
worshipped with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, sister Subhadra and the mighty
Sudarshan Chakra.
Scholars and researchers from the west who visited the temple in 17th
century and later concluded that the idols are of Buddhist origin as
the idols predict the Buddhist symbol of the Three Jewels.

4. NabaKalebara is an important and unique
ceremony of the Grand Temple of Lord
Jagannath. It is a ritual pertaining to the new
embodiment of the deities. It is the unique
ceremony of ‘Birth’ and the ‘Death’ of the
presiding wooden idols. It involves a total
replacement of five idols with the new ones and
discarded idols are given a sub-terrain
consignment as a divine burial. This ritual is
normally celebrated in a year having two Ashadha
months in the Hindu almanac. Such occasions
arise at long intervals varying from 9 to 19 years.
As this ceremony is going to be observed in 2015,
everyone is curious and keen to be part of it and
witness the rituals.

5. The ceremony of Navakalebara starts on the 10th day of the
bright fortnight of Chaitra. It takes place in certain phases as
below -
• BanaJaga Yatra
It contains following steps -
I. Group Formation
II. Authorization from Lord Jagannath and Gajapati (King of
Puri)
III. Location and Direction for Daru (sacred Neem tree)
IV. Identification of proper sacred tree
V. Return to temple with the Daru
• Construction of Idols
• Netra Utsav
• Transfer of Brahma from old idols to new
• Patali Lila (Burial of old idols)
• NabJaubana Darshan

6. BanaJaga Jatra -
Group Formation -
A search party is formed that would go out to locate the Sacred
Tree. It consists of Pati Mahapatra sevak , Dayitapatis, Lenka
Kahali, Viswakarmas, Brahmin priests, Deula Karana, Tadhau
Karana and temple police .
Permission from Lord Jagannath and Gajapati -
After the Midday offering to Lord Jagannath, the blessing of
the Lord is sought. The Patimahapatra performs the worship-
rituals and receives four garlands (“Agnya mala”) from the
four deities, specially prepared for the purpose. Of the four,
he distributes the garlands to the leaders of the respective
groups and keeps the fourth one for himself. From then on,
He would carry the garland until the sacred tree is located.
Dayitapaties and Pati Mahapatra tie a turban ( robe of Lord )
on their head while going on the procession. Both the garland
and the clothes indicates that Lord himself traveling with
the group. Gajapati, the King of Puri, greets the party in a
ritualistic manner and through this ritual authorizes the
group to venture out in search of Daru (log of Neem tree ).
Gajapati
King of Puri

7. Location and Direction for Daru –
For searching party, first halt is Jagannath
Ballav Math. After spending a night there,
they go to Kakatpur, a village 50 miles away
from Puri, to the famous temple of Maa
Mangala, the presiding deity of Kakatpur.
After reaching the village, they stay at Deuli
Math for several days while the Pati
mahapatra, the Acharya and the Brahmin
priest sleeps inside the temple. They recite
“Swapnabati Mantra” and the “Mantraraja of
Nrushingha” 108 times each before going to
bed. Any of them must have a dream during
this stay in which Maa Mangala reveals the
exact location where the trees can be found.
The tree for each of the four deities will be in
a different place. Being blessed by the
goddess, they set out in different groups and
directions looking for the Darus. This may
take as long as 15 days to one month. During
the entire period the group will eat the
prasad of goddess Mangala.
Jagannath Ballav Math, Puri
Ma Mangala Temple, Kakatpur
Deuli Math, Kakatpur

8. Identification of proper sacred tree -
Once the group reach the exact location, they look
for the sacred tree. The Daru for Sri Jagannath should
satisfy the following criteria –
The trunk of the tree should look straight having four
clear branches and should be 7 to 12 cubit high. The
tree should have the divine marks of Lord Vishnu like
Sankha (Conch), Chakra(Disc), Gada(Mace) and Padma
(Lotus). It should have come up near a river or a pond
or on a crossing of 3 path-ways and surrounded by
mountains on three sides. It is good enough if there is
a cremation ground or a temple of Lord Siva or at least
a hermitage nearby. The tree should be free from
creepers. It should also be shorn of nests of birds. It
should not have been hit by lightening or affected in
any way by storm in the past. There should be an
anthill at the foot of the tree. It may also have some
snake-holes. The tree should be surrounded by trees
like ‘Varuna’, ‘Sahada’ and ‘Bilva’.
The Trees for Balabhadra, Suvadra and Sudarshan are
also chosen based on respective criteria.
Sankha Mark on Neem tree
Chakra Mark on Neem tree
Gada Mark on Neem tree

9. Return to Temple -
After the sacred tree is chosen, a yagna is
performed in front of it. The team moves to a
temporary thatched hut nearby and stays in it
till all rituals are complete. The cutting of the
tree commences at an auspicious time. The
Pati Mahapatra first touches the tree with a
golden axe followed by the Dayitapati who
touches it with a silver axe and the head wood
carver of Biswakarma touches it with an iron
axe. Then four Biswakarmas start cutting the
tree. During this event , 108 names of God are
chanted continuously. Once it is complete, the
entire trunk along with its branches are placed
in a wooden cart after. It is ceremoniously
bathed and covered with silken clothes. Then
it is dragged by the Dayitapatis and others in
the group to the Temple. This completes the
Gold and Silver axe
Yagna before cutting the tree
Daru on Cart

10. Construction of Idols -
After the Daru and the team reaches Puri, It is carried along the
Grand road to the Grand Temple through its Northern Gate.
‘Darus’ reach the temple before the Snana Purnima day and kept
in a temporary shed constructed in Koilibaikuntha within the
temple premises. On the ‘Snana Purnima ‘ day, the old statues
receive the ritual bath on “Snana Mandap”. The ‘Darus’ also
simultaneously receive the ritual bath like the old statues on the
same Snana Purnima day. One day after Snana Purnima, the
‘Darus’ are taken to Nirman Mandap. It is the place where darus
are carved to statues. Carving of the idols begin with three oldest
wood carvers carving the main sculptors for the deity of Lord
Jagannath. The idols of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are
simultaneously carved by other two teams consisting of three
carvers each. More than 50 carpenters work as assistant to the
main carvers.

11. Construction of Idols -
The work is done with utmost confidentiality and not even
the head priest of the temple is allowed to visit the place of
work. The wood carvers are not supposed to consume
anything (eat, drink or smoke) once inside the “Nirman
Mandap”. The carvings are completed in 21 days and during
this period the carvers are not supposed to leave the temple
premises. They sleep in the temple courtyard in the night
and have their dinner in the form of Lord’s Mahaprasad.
During this span of time, the temple remains closed to the
public.
“Akhanda Bhajan” ( Continues singing of Devotional song
day and night) is performed outside the Koili Baikuntha.
Shlokas from the Vedas are chanted continuously by
Brahmin priests.

12. Netra Utsav
When the carving of new idols are complete, Their structures
are simply considered as the skeletons of the idols. In the
beginning of the dark fortnight of the extra Ashadha, these
idols are entrusted to the care of the temple-servants known as
Dutta Mahapatra. Their task is to apply on them different
substances by wrapping them up with cloth stripes. This way,
they give a final shape to the statues and handover the deities to
the Chitrakars (Painters). The Chitrakars paint the idols within
two days (on the 14th and the new-moon day of Ashadha) with
indigenous colors. They however don’t paint the pupils of the
eyes of the deities. This work is done by the Brahmin priests on
the 1st day of the bright half of the regular Ashadha with great
devotion in the sanctum. This ritual is known as Netra Utsava.
After giving the final touch to the eyes of the deities, the
Brahmin servitors bath them (their reflections in the bronze
mirrors) with ‘Panchamruta’.

13. Transfer of Brahma from old idols to new –
When the Netra Utsav is complete, they are carried into the
inner sanctum of the temple (Anabasara Pindi) and placed
in front of the old deities, facing them. Lord Jagannath's
height is 5' 7“. His outstretched arms measure 12 ft. across.
He is the heaviest among all the deities. Balabhadra is a bit
lighter. His height is 5' 5" and His arms are also 12 ft.
across. Subhadra is less than 5‘ and light. Sudarsana is in a
long log-shaped form and 5' 10" in length. As Jagannath
and Balabhadra are quite heavy, dayitapatis carry them in
a procedure called “Pahandi” with 5 persons on each arm,
10 on backside, and more than 20 persons pulling the idol
from front . During this period no body is allowed inside
for a Darshan of the Lord, not even the temple priests. The
three new deities are carried inside only by descendants of
the Dayitapati family.

14. Transfer of Brahma from old idols to new –
It is at this point of time that the ‘Bramha’ is transferred from
the old idols to the new idols. The transfer of ‘Brahma’ of Lord
Jagannath is done by Patimahapatra. The transfer of Brahma in
respect of the other deities is done by the Dayitapatis. The
servitors Conducting the secret ritual are old and experienced
persons. Their eyes and hands (up to elbows) are covered with
cloth-bands so that they can’t touch and see the Brahma at the
time of transfer. This is done at the dead of the night. Before
transfer of the ‘Brahma, a special offering (‘Sarbanga Panti
Bhog’”) is offered to the old deities. This is the last offering to o
the old statues. Many among the servitors also hold the view
that the idol of Jagannath might have contained the remains of
the Jagannath-statue that was burnt in 1568 by Kalapahada in
Hoogly . The Brahma was brought by a devotee called Biswar
Mohanty through his musical drum to Odisha. ‘Brahma’ is the
most invaluable rarities in the divine sense. Their implication is
said to be not within the understanding of humans.

15. Patali Lila (Burial of old idols)
As soon as the ‘Brahma’ is taken out of
an idol, the same is considered as dead.
Then it is loaded in the same cart in
which the corresponding new idol had
been brought in and the same is
instantly carried to Koilibaikuntha
which is considered the graveyard of
the old idols. It is situated near north
gate of the temple. Here a pit (9 Hand deep and 6 Hand in
diameter) is kept ready in the midst of a beautiful garden to
receive the old wooden idols. The pit is spread out with red
velvet and the old idols are buried here. There are three
separate graves for the three deities, but all the previous
Jagannath idols are laid to rest in the same grave, one on top of
the other. The peripheral deities of the chariots are also buried
here and new deities are made for Ratha Yatra (Car Festival).
That night a full blackout of Electric power is done in whole of
KoiliBaikuntha garden

16. Patali Lila (Burial of old idols) –
The Dayitapatis observe all rituals of obsequies as the Lord is
considered their supreme family member. The Dayitapatis
remain in a state of impurity for a period of ten days. They leave
their hair unsaved. They also observe all sorts of obsequies. On
the tenth day, they come to the temple and apply oil to their
bodies near Mukti Mandap and next proceed to the Markendaya
Tank where they cut their hair and nail and observe purifying
baths. They also whitewash their houses. On the 12th day, the
Daitas gave a feast to all the servitors of the Temple. Just as the
heirs of a deceased person lay claims on the properties of the
latter, the Dayitapatis lay claims on the articles used by “the late
statues” after the burial function is over. Normally, the Temple,
for this purpose, pays some money to the Dayitas by way of
compensation. However they take the relics of the old statues
like cloth-stripes etc. which they mostly sell to the pilgrims.

17. Naba Jauban Darshan
On the morning of the second day the new deities are
seated on the altar, the “Ratna-Singhasana. The daily
routine of the temple finally begins again, after a lapse
of nearly 58 days. Sweet-smelling flower garlands and
new garments are given to the new deities, food is
offered, and puja is done. Devotees can again come
inside for darshan. This darshan is called
“NabaJaubana“ darshan. On the third day, the new
deities emerge from the temple for the famous Car
Festival. The Naba Kalebara draws millions of people
from across the world to Puri. Naba Kalebara is one of
the biggest festival in the country and draws the most
number of people.

18. Jay Jagannath !
Thank You