Bhubaneswar, Jun 22: The famous 'rath yatra', scheduled to be held at Puri on July 1 next, will do away with an age-old practice of elephants adorning the annual fest. When the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Dibyasingha Dev, emerges from his palace in a palanquin during the festival for the traditional 'chhera pahanra' ritual, no elephant will be showing him the way to the three giant chariots.

The Sri Jagannath Temple administration has decided not to deploy any elephant to lead the way for the Gajapati Maharaja, Bhaskar Mishra, officer-on-special duty for the 'rath yatra' said.

The decision has apparently been taken in view of the non-availability of trained elephants, he said.

But the death of Laxmi, an elephant from Uttar Pradesh which was used for the ritual, is seen to be the reason behind the temple decision.

Laxmi, a she-elephant, was on its way from Puri after the festival last year when she collapsed and despite attention from veterinarians from both within the state and outside died amidst media glare.
Authorities of the Nandankanan zoo near here could not lend an elephant for the purpose without permission from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

Bureau Report