About the DVD
Icons of Lord Jagannath and his companions in Jagannath Temple of Puri in Orissa are made of Neem wood. Ritualistically, these icons are made after an interval of 12/19 years. This event is called Navakalevara or the new embodiment. This film is a rare documentation of this event, done on 29th March 1996, 65 days before the full moon day of Jaistha or the day better known as Snan Purnima.
This ancient event revolves around Banajaga Yatra, the journey undertaken in search of the sacred log. For this, temple men known as Dayitas or Daitas, said to be descendents of Visavasu tribe of mythological origin, are authorized.
After receiving Agya Malas, Dayitas sport scared headgear, whereupon stanzas of Gita Govinda are printed. The chariot moves to Mangola shrine to get blessings before the actual search begins for the right kind of Neem tree. The tree should be 15 feet high, smooth, devoid of bird nests, guarded by cobras. For two days, the tree is worshipped before it is axed. The log is placed in a cart and it travels back to Lord Jagannath temple 15 days before the famous Ratha Yatra, Out of the log, sacred icons of Jagannath and his companions are made. A new sapling is planted on the spot where the Neem tree was axed - a sacred gesture of balancing nature.
