Puri: At a time when Maharana servitors were leaving no stone unturned to construct three majestic chariots for Rath Yatra, figurines of many subsidiary deities and charioteers were found to have been damaged by termites, sources said Wednesday.
Sources said wooden figurines of horses, charioteers and subsidiary deities are usually kept on the premises of Dolabedi. “Following the Parikrama Prakalpa work, authorities could not find an appropriate place for safekeeping the figurines. As a result, termites began feasting on the figurines,” said a source.
Figurines of horses, charioteers and subsidiary deities were constructed during the Nabakalebara of the deities.
Every year, Bhoi servitors install the horses, charioteers and subsidiary deities to the majestic chariots just before the car festival and uninstall those after the Niladri Bije rituals of the Srimandir deities.
Along with the idols of the sibling deities, the figurines of horses, charioteers and subsidiary deities are also buried during the Nabakalebara.
PNN