2020-06-24 Wed

Nabakalebara is a symbolic recreation of the wooden forms of three Hindu deities (Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshana) at Jagannath Temple, Puri. The Word Nabakalebara is derived from two Odia words: Naba (new) and kalebara (body), translated as "the change of one's physical form."

Hindu calendar is known for a month on two full moons. Every three years in the Hindu calendar, a lunar month is excluded from the calculation to maintain a balance between lunar and solar years. This period, called Adhikmasa or Malamasa or a year with an extra month, is considered auspicious for a special ceremony.

This year the ceremony falls on 23rd June 2020. It marks the demise and rebirth of Lord Jagannath at Puri. The event involves the installation of new images in the Jagannath temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises. The occasion occurs every 8th or 12th or 19th year of the previous Nabakalebara.

In the year 2018 two coins of Rs 10 (circulative) and Rs, 1000 (noncirculative) were issued to commemorate the festival that took place in the year 2015. The coin on the reverse depicts the image of Shree Jagannatha in the center with neelachakra behind him. The legend “SHREE JAGANNATH NABAKALEBAR” in both Devanagari and Roman surrounds the central image.

Image Courtesy: numismaticscollections.blogspot.com