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Jagannath temple pandal for 9-day fest at Kolkata's Maidan
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Kolkata: Construction of a Jagannath temple in the heart of the city is underway at a feverish pitch to meet the Friday evening deadline when it must be ready to host Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
But it is a temporary one. Right in the middle of the Maidan, a mega pandal — inspired by the Jagannath temples at Puri and Digha — is being built.
This replica is also inspired by the Durga Puja pandals. It will be the Gundicha temple or 'Masir-bari', where the deities from the Iskcon temple at Albert Road will reside before Ulta Rath, the return journey, on July 5.
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This pandal is in addition to the replica of Puri's Jagannath temple in Kidderpore.
The one in Digha has been attracting a record number of devotees since its inauguration by CM Mamata Banerjee at the end of April.
"In the 54th year of Rath Yatra, we wanted to do something special and decided to make a mega pandal, designed like the Jagannath temple. The main spire will be 125 ft tall. It will be70 ft wide and 130 ft deep. Thus, the space inside will be 9,100 sq ft, large enough to accommodate devotees who throng the Maidan during the nine-day Rath Yatra festival," said Iskcon vice-president, Radharamn Das.
Around 22-23 lakh people are expected to visit the deities at the Maidan during the period.
One of the prime attractions at the Maidan celebration will be the global 'bhog.' All preparations strictly follow the Vedic guidelines of offering only 'saatvic' (pure vegetarian) food, devoid of onion, garlic, or any tamasic ingredients.
The cooking area during Rath Yatra is not just a kitchen; it is a spiritual melting pot where cultures blend and the universal language of devotion is communicated through food.
Russians prepare fresh vegetarian salads, chopping and seasoning with care. The Italians bring flavours from the Mediterranean, serving up lasagna and pasta. From South America to Europe, from Australia to Asia, devotees offer dishes inspired by their traditional cuisines.
"It is often said that Jagannath loves to eat, and his devotees love to cook for him. Nowhere is this sentiment more evident than here, where cultures and cuisines beautifully unite in service to the Lord. This international participation reflects the growing global family of devotees connected bylove for Jagannath. As the grand chariots roll through the streets of Kolkata, it is not just a festival of movement, but a celebration of unity," said Das.
