12 hours ago
Puri king's younger brother Ranarnab Deb passes away
Bhubaneswar: Ranarnab Deb, younger brother of Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, passed away following prolonged illness in the early hours of Monday. He was 67.
Ranarnab, who was known as 'Thaata Raja', is survived by 'Thaata' queen Soma Debi (63) and prince Devraj Deb (37), family sources said.
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Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said that Ranarnab, an enthusiast of travel, wildlife and business, held no official duties at the shrine, unlike his elder brother, who serves as the first and foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath.
"Thaata Raja's death will not impact king Dibyasingha Deb's seva puja during the Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra. As the Thaata Raja wasn't a temple servitor, daily shrine rituals will continue normally," Biswajit Dash, late Ranarnab's manager, told TOI.
Family sources said Ranarnab was hospitalised in Puri recently. "Thaata Raja had liver cirrhosis. He died of cardiac arrest on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday," said Dash.
Ranarnab's funeral took place at Puri Swargadwar with royal honours. The pyre was lit using flames from the temple's kitchen. Following royal customs, his remains were taken on shoulders by four men in a 'covered kokei' (a frame made of bamboo and tied with straw ropes).
Palace priests conducted the last rites.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy CMs Pravati Parida and K V Singh Deo, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Puri MP Sambit Patra, among others, expressed their condolences.
"I am deeply saddened to hear about the demise of the Thaata Raja of Puri, Ranarnab Deb. My condolences to the bereaved family. May Lord Jagannath grant them patience and strength in this hour of unbearable grief. I pray at the feet of Lord Jagannath for the peace and solace of the departed soul," the CM wrote on X.
