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BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, June 19, 2004: Dasi Nayak is the King of Koraput, though for only one day in a year. He is a tribal chief of Rangabali Kumbha village near Koraput. He will be performing the ritualistic sweeping of the chariot of the three deities this year. Tribals have been given their due importance in the car festival at Koraput, since its beginning in 1972. The tribal head from a village is given the honour of performing a practice in their local area which the king of Puri does at the big Puri festival. He is invited by the temple management with all due formalities. He receives the first invitation from the temple by a special messenger, who gives him a betel leaf and nut. This is followed by invitations to the tribal heads of other villages.



A special invitation has been sent to Sri Jagannath Khora of Upper Kondapali near Chatua. The tribals of this village have a special link with the temple at Koraput. Youth like Sitaram Naik from the village have become priests in the temple. They are allowed to perform puja in the main temple, along with the regular priests. The regular priest performs Mantra Puja, while the tribal offers Bhakti Puja. On the day of Ratha Yatra, the heads from different tribes like Sabar, Bonda, Koya and Gadaba, are honoured by the district collector on the chariot by tying ‘Shiropas’ (turbans) on their head. With turbans on their heads, they are given the distinction to submit their offerings to the Gods. Fruits from their gardens are the first offering to the Gods and only then the general public is allowed.

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