Decision to resume old practice in Rath Yatra

Rajkumar MohantyPuri, July 7: As many as 30 varieties of sweetmeats would be offered to the deities on the chariots after the deities return to main gate of the Shri Jagannath temple till they enter into the sanctum sanctorum on the Niladri Bije.In a meeting of the temple managing body on the Monday it was resolved to resume the practice which was stopped since 1912.As per the schedule the Suara Badus, a section of temple cooks who prepare cakes and other sweetmeats for the deities, would prepare cakes like Parijat, Kakera, Takera, Mandua, Jhili, Laddu, Amalu and other items in a special kitchen in the main temple complex which would be offered to the deities on the chariots by the priests.Raghunath Suara and Biswanath Samantray, president and secretary respectively of the Suara Badu Nijog had agreed to prepare the cakes for the deities.The cakes would be offered after three chariots return from the Gundicha temple in Bahuda Yatra (return car festival).The deities normally stay on the chariots for a minimum of four days till they enter into the Ratna Sihmasan of the main temple.During these four days the deities were offered Rasgulla bhog, Adharpana and other items.Prior to 1912 they were also offered 30 types of cakes on the chariots which was stopped and the reason for this breakage was not known said the Nijog president Raghunath.Suresh Chandra Mahapatra the chief administrator chaired the meeting in absence of Gajapati King Dibyasingha Deb.