ISSN 0970-8669 Review

21st Century’s First : A Case of Best People’s Management Strategy

Prof. Bhakta Bandhu Dash

abakalebara or the renewal of body of the NDivine vigraha-s in Shrikshetra- is known as Brahmotsava. Nabakalebar is a composition of two words like ‘Naba’ means New and ‘Kalebar’ means body. Hence the meaning of the term ‘Nabakalebar’ means New Body. ‘Atibadi’ Jagannatha Das’s unique creation Srimad Bhagabata’ evokes spiritual feeling with an established ritual of regular recitation in every Odia heart. There it is written ‘Martya mandale deha bahi, devata hoile marai’. It means- Everyone, including gods, has to experience death if they take birth in this mortal world. Nabakalebara has a long history, as revealed from the temple chronicle, . Few sources cite 1575 AD as the commencement of fashioning of images in the Nirmana Mandapa in Nabakalebara rituals. However, authentic Koili Baikuntha takes place during the first dark physical records are available since the early part fortnight which is shuddha or pure fortnight. of nineteenth century describing this mega event. In Odia Mythological Culture, This grand holy festival precedes Ratha Navakalebar is the periodical renewal of the Yatra so called Car Festival. Usually it is done at wooden images of Sudarshan, Balabhadra, intervals of eight or nineteen years, particularly in and . The Darus (Neem Tree) the intercalary month of Asadha which comprises of different deities are characterized by different three fortnights. Out of these three fortnights, the features. They are distinguished from each other. closing two fortnights constitute an intercalary The tree of Sudarshan is plotted first which is month or mala masa (impure month) or adhimasa followed by the tree of Lord Balabhadra, Devi (leap month). All leap months have a sanctified Subhadra and Lord Jagannath in order. It is name, Purusottama Masa. Nabakalebara or to be endorsed that in none of the temples of

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antiquity in India we find wooden images being 5) Bhumi Shuddhi (consecrating the place worshipped over ages. Though there are Shastric/ where the chosen Daru stands) includes Daru Vedic / Puranic prescriptions for different Snana (Bathing Daru), touching Daru with mediums, eg., gold, silver, brass, wood, iron, gold-axe and felling Daru. gemstone, rock, sandalwood, flowers and paintings etc, in which the divine images can be 6) Burying unrequired branches and leaves. made. The Holy Trinity, Sudarshana and Vamana 7) Vedic Puja with secret and esoteric ritual are all fashioned from the neem wood. The neem near Daru. tree is said to be very pure and sacred. It smells sandalwood when the tree grows old. 8) Making chaupata (proper sizing) of the This historic event is said to have Daru. occurred in July 1575 A.D. as per the 9) Carrying the Daru wrapped in Gitagovinda Madalapanji – The temple record. The history Khandua to Koili Baikuntha in a newly built says that Nabakalebar has occurred during cart. Afghan Rule, Mughal Rule, Maratha Rule and even during British Rule. In British rule this festival 10) Construction of Seven Temporary was successively organized in 1809, 1828, 1855, Mandapa-s or thatched houses at the 1874, 1893, 1912 and 1931. After Indian premises of Koili Baikuntha for consecration Independence it happened during 1950, 1969, of the Divine Logs collected from different 1977, 1996 and 2015. places. Features of Nabakalebara Rituals: 11) Construction of temporary Mandapa-s are 1) Banajaga Jatra – Ceremonial Journey in to be completed two days before the Snana quest of Daru (the Holy Tree) via goddess Purnima.The Mandapas include Nirmana Mangala of Kakatapur. Mandapa, Pratistha Mandapa or Yajna 2) Mahadaru Chinhata (Identification of the Mandapa, Lakshmi-Nrushingha Mandapa, Holy Neem Tree as per the identification Daru Mandapa, Sambhara Mandapa, Snana marks) Mandapa, and Adhivasa Mandapa. 3) Shabarapalli Nirmana (Construction of a 12) Constructing Idols as per the guidance of temporary shed for the Daita servitors during the fire sacrifice or Yajna in the proximity of Caretakers of Idol- the Bada Grahi. the Daru) 13) Ghata Parivarttana – Transfer of or 4) Surya Puja and Yajna Mandapa Nirmana the secret life substance from the old idols (Construction of sacrificial platform near the to the new ones popularly known as Daru) Brahmotsava.

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14) Patali leela or Goloka Vishrama (burial of • 4 April (Saturday) to 17 May 2015 old idols). (Sunday): Explore Daru. 15) Shuddhi Kriya (Purificatory rites by the Daita • 2 June 2015, Tuesday: Debasnana Purnima Patis). • 5 June 2015, Friday: Carving of images. People's Management for Nabakalebar 2015 • 15 June 2015, Monday: Transfer of The State Government collaborated with Brahma at midnight. National Disaster Management Authority • 17 July 2015, Friday: Naba Jaubana (NDMA) and Central Industrial Security Force Darshan. (CISF) for undertaking reactive as well as proactive steps in managing crowds in • 18 July 2015, Saturday: Nabakalebar Festival at Puri. It was expected • 22 July 2015, Wednesday:Hera Panchami. that there will be agglomeration of about 30 lakh of pilgrims at Nabakalebar and Cart Festival at • 26 July 2015, Sunday:Bahuda Yatra. Puri. In this regard, quick reaction team was • 27 July, Monday: Sunabesa constituted for managing emergency situations and for this purpose, 127 well trained police officers • 28 July 2015, Tuesday:Adhara Niti. were specially deployed for this team. The state • 30 July 2015, Thursday: Niladribije government had imparted special training to police Anticipating congregation of more than officers and Jagannath Temple Police (JTP), for 30 lakh the State government has prepared the better crowd management and behaviour. In comprehensive Mobility Plan for regulating order to make the process more streamlined State Government prepared a schedule for the festival: vehicles. In this regard main road as well as connecting road expansion was made. National The Nabakalebara 2015 schedule: Highway, Connecting Roads, Modernization of • 29 March 2015, Sunday: Banajaga Yatra. Hospital, Police Stations, Fire Station were completed much before the Nabakalebar Festival • 30 March 2015, Monday: Journey to Deuli which was purely a strategic implementation of Math. Daitapatis will leave Jagannath the State Government. Ballava Ashram and will stay at Nuanai Bank Ashram. Odisha Government deployed 10,000 police and security forces for safe conduct of • 2 April 2015,Thursday : Stay at Deuli Math Nabakalebar ritual, Rath Yatra in Puri in 2015. Apart from police personnel, 14 units of senior • 3 April 2015, Friday: Worship at Kakatpur police personnel were deployed for managing the Mangala temple. VVIPs and to control crowd and traffic, besides

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emergency services. There were bomb detection Management of Nabakalebar by State and disposal units, dog squads and intelligence Government: gathering units as well. As per the arrangement, For Odisha Government, Nabakalebar sea, air and land routes were kept under tight festival was a great success. Lakhs of devotees security and strong supervision. The entire city from across the world peacefully visited the Rath was under the views of 150 CCTV cameras. 32 Yatra, Bahuda Yatra, Sunavesha. Chief Minister, CCTV cameras were installed in Jagannath Shri Naveen Patnaik had reactive as well as Temple. CCTV control rooms were thoroughly proactive review over the preparation of operational during the ritual. Nabakalebar. He reviewed the progress of For the purpose of managing traffic, various works connected with the Nabakalebar places were earmarked for parking of light and festival. He had categorically instructed the heavy motor vehicles. For the peaceful stays of concerned departments to complete the projects devotees 33 temporary shelter zones so called within scheduled time before the arrival of Nabakalebar Villages were constructed by the monsoon. The concerned administrative State Govt. These centres were offering services departments had been asked to monitor the like pick-ups and drops from station/ bus stop to weekly and monthly progress of the works at the Centre and back, free hygienic food, safe ground level. drinking water, bathing points and toilets. All the centres were connected with light, fan, and wi-fi services. 24X7 police patrolling and ambulance services were given to the devotees. Free health Prof. Bhakta Bandhu Dash, Asian School of Business check-ups and health assistance facilities were Management, , e-mail: bbdash also given to the devotees, by the State Govt. @yahoo.com

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