Bikas Mohapatra new administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration

Ahead of Lord Jagannath's Nabakalebara festival next year, Odisha government has appointed Bikash Chandra Mohapatra as the new administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), according to a notification issued by General Administration Department today.

Mohapatra, who is now posted as the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, replaced Aravind Padhee, who is also the secretary of tourism and culture department. Mohapatra is also the RDC, central range, Cuttack. The post of administrator of SJTA would be the additional charge of Mohapatra, the notification said.

Earlier, the state government had appointed Puri MLA and former minister Maheswar Mohanty as the chairman of a committee to monitor and supervise infrastracural development of Puri ahead of Nabakalebara festival.

The state government is expecting above 30 lakh devotees in Puri for the Nabakalebara festival which takes place in a gap of 12 to 18 years. In the festival, the wooden body of the trinity - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath are replaced by new idols.