Nabakalebara is an auspicious ceremony which is held in Puri, Odisha after every twelve to nineteen years. After 1996, the auspicious ritual is held this year and preparation for it have started in full-fledge.
It is an ancient ritual where the deities of Jagannath temple (Puri), particularly Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudharsan are replaced by new idols.
The idols which are made of wood is not an ordinary wood, but is specified by god.
It is believed that the priests of Jagannath temple follow a traditional rite to invoke the goddess Mangala (Maa Managala at Kakatpur, Odisha). The goddess comes in their dreams to reveal the location of the tree.
The deities are made from Neem tree which is known as ‘Daru Brahma’.
(Source Image : eodisha.org )
The tree which goes into making of these idols has some specifications like no creeps should hang on the tree and etc… Apart from this, most important of all is the natural impression of conch-shell and chakra (wheel) on the trunk for selection of the tree.
