Odisha : RDC appeals to devotees to donate tree timbers for Puri Car festival
Puri (Odisha), Oct 18 : Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Suresh Chandra Dalai has appealed to the devotees to donate mature Phasi, Asan and Dhaura tree timbers for construction of three chariots being used in the annual Puri car festival.
These tree species are becoming scarce and 865 pieces of timbers are required for construction of the chariots.
Dalai also appealed to donate sandalwood required in the day-to-day rituals of the deities of Sri Jagannath temple.
The RDC was assessing the availability of the timbers in the meeting of forest officials of various districts on Tuesday.
He asked the officials to prepare a database of trees planted in various parts of the state under the Sri Jagannath Banaprakalp, a mega project, initiated by the state government three decades ago to meet the shortages of these tree species.
The RDC directed the forest officers to cooperate with donors by simplifying the process of cutting and transportation by the individuals who intends to donate Phasi, Asan, Dhaura and sandalwood trees for the presiding deities of Sri Jagannath temple.
He said the temple administration felicitate those who donate the required tree species for construction of the chariots and emphasised that there is need to spread this message among all devotees to get a good response.
Divisional Forest Officers of Puri, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Boudh, and Ghumusar had participated in the meeting.
Puri Collector Samarth Verma and Temple Administrator (Rituals) Jitendra Kumar Sahu also attended.
