Nabakalebara 2015 in Puri Jagannath Temple – Nabakalebara Ceremony in 2015

Nabakalebara is the change of the murtis worshipped in the world famous Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa. Nabakalebara 2015 date is July 15 midnight. The new murtis will particiapte in the Rath Yatra taking place on July 18. The present murtis will be replaced with new murtis made out of neem tree. The change of murtis is known as Nabakalebara and takes place when there is an Adhik Ashada Masa or extra Ashada month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar. In 2015 there is an additional Ashada month from June 17 to July 16.

The change of murtis last took place 19 years ago.

The murtis are made from a special type of neem wood known as Daru Bramha. The murtis of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subadhra and Sudarshana Chakra are changed. The new body is referred to as Nabakalebara. A wrapped package of brahma (life) is removed from the old murti and is place in the new one.

The old murtis are buried.

The murtis are made from a special type of neem wood known as Daru Bramha.

Preparations for the ceremony start in the month of Chaitra Month (March – April) (Chaitra Shukla Paksha Navami).

Last Nabakalebara ceremony was performed in 1996.

Nabakalebara Ceremony in 2015 will attract more than 3 million devotees from around the world.