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Every July, during the grand Ratha Yatra in Puri, three majestic wooden chariots roll down the Bada Danda. Among the crowd, a figure dressed in simple white cloth ascends the chariot with a broom adorned with a golden handle, sweeping the path for the deities. This individual is not a priest or a hired worker; he is the King of Puri. This annual ritual, known as Chhera Pahara, marks the rare occasion when the royal family of Odisha makes a public appearance. The current king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, is a humble 73-year-old.

A Royal Ascension Amidst Tragedy A Throne Inherited Mid-Festival

His journey to the throne was anything but ordinary. Born Jenamani Kamarnaba Deb on February 6, 1953, he was the firstborn of Gajapati Maharaja Birakishore Deb and Maharani Suryamani Pattamahadei. Tragically, his father passed away during the Ratha Yatra festival in 1970, forcing the 17-year-old to assume the throne amidst the festival's chaos. His coronation took place on the very day of his father's death, marking a poignant and heavy legacy.

Education and Spiritual Awakening

Despite his royal duties, he pursued an extensive education. He attended Blessed Sacrament High School in Puri and Rajkumar College in Raipur, later studying History at St Stephen's College in Delhi, graduating in 1972. He then earned an LLB from Delhi University and an LLM from Northwestern University in Chicago. However, it was the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and interactions with spiritual leaders like Swami Chidananda Saraswati and Chinmayananda Saraswati that redirected his path from law back to his spiritual responsibilities at the temple. He expressed that once he recognized his role as a servant, everything else became secondary.

Custodian of Tradition Guardian Of Tradition, On And Off The Chariot

As the titular Gajapati, he presides over the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, established under the Shri Jagannath Temple Act of 1955. His presence is felt throughout the temple's year-round rituals, including Snana Jatra and Bahuda Jatra, not just during the festival week. He married Vinita Devi in 1978, who is now known as Maharani Leelavati Pattamahadei, and together they have four daughters. The absence of a male heir has sparked discussions about succession, a topic the family has not publicly addressed. Generally, he maintains a low profile, emerging primarily during significant temple events.

Recent Controversies

Recently, he made headlines by voicing his concerns regarding ISKCON's Rath Yatras held abroad. The Gajapati reached out to ISKCON's governing body, expressing that these 'untimely' celebrations, occurring on arbitrary dates, undermine the sanctity of the nine-day festival, which should commence on Ashadha Shukla-paksha Dvitiya. ISKCON's response was curt, stating they would no longer engage in the discussion, leaving the Maharaja to seek intervention from the central government.

A Legacy Beyond the Throne

This ongoing dispute highlights his commitment to preserving the festival's traditions. For Dibyasingha Deb, kingship transcends the mere possession of a throne; it embodies the act of service, symbolized by the broom he wields during the Chhera Pahara.