Latest news with #Baladevjew
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Siali ropes keep Rath Yatra rolling for 400 years
1 2 Keonjhar: For nearly 400 years, the chariot of Lord Baladevjew, 'world's tallest' chariot, is pulled by ropes made from the bark of 'siali' creepers during Rath Yatra. Historians said the Bhuyan community has been providing the ropes for a long time. Locally sourced from nearby forests, siali creeper's bark is transformed into strong, thick ropes by hand. Traditionally, six Bhuyan 'Pirha' would donate the ropes. Pirha means a habitation where hundreds of Bhuyan community families reside. Over time, due to a shortage of 'siali' creepers and other reasons, only Danla village in Suakati panchayat under Banspal block has kept the tradition alive. As the festival nears, the villagers gather to make 'siali' ropes for the Nandighosh chariot of Sri Baladevjew Temple, Keonjhar. From 'Akshaya Tritiya', villagers go to Gandhamardan hills to collect the siali bark. The ropes are nearly 150ft long and up to 18 inches wide. "We make a total of four ropes by combining three for the journey," said Bhimsen Puhan of Danla. Kunja Dehuri, the village chief of Danla, said, " From Akshaya Tritiya, everyone in the village goes to the hills to collect the bark of good 'siali' creepers and bring them back. On Snana Purnima, we make the rope after getting permission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Although its preparation is very difficult, we are continuing the tradition with a sense of devotion for hundreds of years." The ropes, once tied to the chariot of Sri Baladevjew, are believed to carry blessings. Devotees often collect small pieces to keep at home for peace and prosperity. "The use of these ropes to pull the chariot is a very old tradition," said Raj Kishore Panda, chief servitor of the temple.
New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Bramha Taladhawaja wheels develop cracks, pulling to resume today
KENDRAPARA: Around four out of 14 wheels of the Bramha Taladhawaja chariot of the ancient Baladevjew temple in Kendrapara developed cracks on the second day of the Rath Yatra on Saturday. As a result, the 65-feet long chariot could not reach the Mausima temple, located two kilometres away. On Friday, the chariot was pulled by the devotees only for ten metres. While devotees resumed pulling the chariot towards Mausima temple on Saturday, spokes of some of the wheels were found partly broken for which the chariot leaned towards the left side. The chariot could not be pulled further as engineers and carpenters failed to repair the wheels. Engineers are trying their best to repair the damaged wheels and lift the chariot by using machines, said Balabhadra Patri, executive officer of Baladevjew temple. 'Out of 14 wheels of the chariot, we built four new wheels and repaired the rest due to shortage of good quality wood. We procured 760 cubic feet of Sal wood from the Forest department in Keonjhar district for the construction of the state's second biggest wooden chariot,' he said. Construction work of the three chariots at Puri started on Akshaya Tritiya on April 30 but in Kendrapara, it began on May 23 due to the delay by Forest department to provide wood to the temple,' Patri added. Pramod Dash, a priest of the temple, said. 'The temple authorities used old timber to build the wheels of the chariot as a result many wheels developed cracks. The journey of the chariot has already been delayed for two days. We hope it will reach the temple on Sunday.'
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Baladevjew temple procures wood from Keonjhar to build state's 2nd biggest chariot for Rath Yatra
Kendrapada: Kendrapada administration has recently procured 760 cubic feet of sal wood from the forest department of Telkoi in Keonjhar for constructing chariots for Rath Yatra celebrations at Baladevjew temple next month. "We paid only Rs 11,621 as royalty amount to the Keonjhar forest department for procuring the wood," Balabhadra Patri, the executive officer of the 300-year-old temple. The proposed 64-ft-high rath, expected to be the state's second biggest wooden chariot after the one in Puri temple, will be built by around 45 carpenters. "Out of the chariot's 14 wheels, we will build four new wheels and use old 10 wheels. We will also use old timber of the chariot to build some portions of the rath," Patri added. "The construction work of the three chariots in Puri began on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya on April 30. Our chariot construction has been delayed for three weeks due to the delay in the arrival of sal wood from Keonjhar. We will start the construction work on May 23 and all artisans are determined to complete the work before Rath Yatra on June 27," he said.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Keonjhar forest division supplies wood for chariot construction
1 2 3 4 5 6 Keonjhar: Keonjhar forest division has allocated 2,030 cubic feet of timber, predominantly sal wood, for construction of chariots in Keonjhar and Kendrapada districts ahead of Rath Yatra . Forest officials confirmed that 1,470 cubic feet of sal wood was harvested from KN Ram mining lease area under Barbil forest range for Keonjhar's Lord Baladevjew chariot . Also, 560 cubic feet was sourced from Kalapat reserve forest in Telkoi range for chariot construction in chariot is recognized among world's tallest. This massive chariot, reconstructed annually as part of a 300-year-old tradition, serves as the ceremonial vehicle for Lord Baladevjew during the festival."No fresh or virgin forest areas were disturbed for this purpose. The wood was sourced from designated mining and scheduled coupe areas already marked for annual harvesting," said Dhanraj HD, divisional forest officer, Keonjhar division.
United News of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
NHRC seeks ATR from Kendrapara DM and SP on Baladev Jew Temple Issues
Kendrapara, May 7 (UNI)The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought for an Action Taken Report(ATR) from the Collector and the Superintendent of Police, Kendrapara on the prevalent situation in the famous Baladev Jew Temple in Kendrapada town. The NHRC also transmitted a copy of the order to the Chief Secretary and the DGP of Odisha for information and necessary action. Moved by the petition filed by Right Activist Radhakanta Tripathy ,the NHRC passed the order on May 5 and sought for the ATR within four weeks. Tripathy alleged that the condition of the 400 years old Baldevjee Temple, Kendrapara District, Odisha has deteriorated due to negligence by the Temple Endowment Trust Board, local police, and district authorities, leading to unhygienic conditions, including filthy toilets, alcohol consumption, and anti-social activities within the temple premises. Tripathy further alleged that despite several complaints and directives for renovation, the temple remains in a state of neglect, violating the religious sentiments and basic human rights of the devotees. Though 40 CCTVs were installed in the temple to keep a vigil ,but due to sub standard quality of CCTV these are not functioning properly, Meanwhile 12 out of 40 CCTVs are now operational whereas others are not working .Besides this ,out of 32 employees 30 employees have crossed 60 years old . Their work is not remunerated as per the norms and parameters. The sub-collector-cum-the Working president of Baladevjew Temple Endowment Trust Board has not been taking the issue seriously. Lord Baladevjew is the symbol of trust and belief of lakhs of devotees but the temple remains neglected . The Baladevjew temple is the second largest endowment Trust Board next to Puri's Jagannath temple, but it is irony that the temple developmental work has been lacking behind, though the state government has undertaken renovation, modernisation and beautification works of several temples The Kendrapara Zilla Vikash Parishad(KZVP) met the Temple Endowment Commission and demanded to take steps for shifting the wooden boxes and fuel woods from Jhulan mandap and snana mandap ,besides steps should be taken for renovation of chandan pokhari and to carry out the beautification works of the temple in a war footing basis. On November 6 last ,Deputy Commissioner of Endowment ,Dillip Kumar Satapathy visited Baladevjew temple to take stock of the situation related to the allegations made by Kendrapara Zilla Vikash Parishad (KZVP) The Jhulan Mandap has turned into the storage place of wooden boxes(sinduka) of the servitors and the Snana Mandap has become the storage place of fuel woods depot by creating an unhygienic atmosphere . It has created a bad impression for the tourists and devotees towards the temple. The temple needs renovation on an urgent basis. Several times the Temple endowment Commission of Odisha has directed to vacate the wooden boxes (Sinduka) from jhulan Mandap and fuel wood from snan mandap ,but due to the callous attitude of the Baladevjew Trust board, the direction is yet to be carried out in true letter and spirit . Besides this the Temple Endowment Trust Board also fears that they might face the wrath of servitors if they try to vacate the wooden boxes and fuel woods from the temple premises. Although a police bit house was opened about 100 metres distance from the temple, especially for the temple security but the strength of police personnel is very minimum to maintain law and order. Due to apathetic attitude of the State Government and the District Administration of Kendrapara, the locals, devotees and the pilgrims suffer untold miseries. The lack of basic amenities and filthy atmosphere , polluted environment and activities of anti-socials amounts to serious violation of human rights, Tripathy alleged. He requested the Commission to investigate the case in detail by a team of officials and direct the State Home Department, Temple Endowment Commission of Odisha, District Collector and SP of Kendrapada to ensure potable drinking water and clean and hygienic toilets for the locals and devotees, pilgrims in the temple premises,to ensure healthy atmosphere and hygienic environment. He has also requested the commission to ensure renovation and beautification of the temple at the earliest, to open a police bit house inside the temple by shifting the existing one to temple premises and to take steps for engaging half platoon of police personnel round the clock to ensure the safety and sanctity of 400- years old temple. The Commission stated that if the above allegations are true, it would be tantamount to a serious violation of the human rights of the complainant. The Bench of the National Human Rights Commission, presided by Priyank Kanungo, the Member of NHRC , has taken cognizance in terms of Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, in the matter. The commission directed to send the complaint to the authority concerned and issue a notice to the DM and SP, Kendrapara District, with directions to get the allegations made in the complaint looked into and to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks for perusal of the Commission. UNI XC DP SJC
