Docs prescribe fruits for ailing deities

Bhubaneswar: 'Khichdi, kanika, dalma, saga, rasabali, pithapuli' and 'jhili' among a host of other mouth-watering delicacies have disappeared from the platter of the deities. The reason being that the divine siblings are unwell and the shrine 'vaidya' (Ayurveda doctor) has prescribed them only fruits.
The new diet came into force since June 20 when they were given a grand shower on Debasnan Purnima, leading to their illness.The ailing deities, who are since out of bounds for devotees, will recuperate and give darshan on July 5, a day before the annual car festival.
The rituals of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are akin to the daily chores of a human being. As per tradition, the ailing Lord is undergoing a 15-day treatment in the sickroom ('anasara ghar') of the temple since Debasnan Purnima. The temple vaidya is supplying herbal medicines, while the servitors are offering only fruits and juice (mixture of milk and cheese).
"Cooked food is strictly prohibited," said Ramchandra Dasmohapatra, one of the servitors looking after the deities. Every year, the temple vaidya collects many types of herbs from different districts. The medicines are prepared in a powdered form and given to the deities.
Unlike other days, the deities are being offered food only twice a day (in the evening and at night). On a normal day, the deities are offered more than fifty types of 'bhogs' (various types of cakes, cooked food and sweets) at least six times in a day.
Only a particular group of priests, called Daitapatis, serve the Lord during the fortnight. Around 80 Daitapati servitors take care of the deities during their illness.
"As the darshan of the original deities is restricted during this period, their representative idols, painted canvas, are worshipped in the temple. Most of the services are conducted secretly inside the sick room. The rituals usually start during the evening and go on till the wee hours of the next day," said Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, another servitor.