In view of Nabakalebara of Jagannath in Puri
in July, the India Post will release a special stamp and first-day cover,
featuring images of the reigning deities.
The culture department will provide Rs 5 lakh
to the Postal Department for publishing one lakh postage stamps.
The department said it would promote Jagannath
culture across the country.
"We should not leave any stone unturned
to popularize the mega event, which will be observed after 1996. The state
government will release Rs five lakh from the Odisha State Council of Culture
for publication of the special postage stamps," said culture minister
Ashok Panda.
The decision to release a special postal stamp
was taken following a demand from different quarters.
"The Centre has started the process of
releasing stamp and postal cover on the occasion," said a culture
department officer. Recently, the postal department wrote a letter to the
culture department, seeking funds to bring out the dedicated postage stamps.
Last week, the Union tourism department
sanctioned Rs 50 crore for promotion of Nabakalebara festival and related
infrastructure development activities in Puri. The department would bring out
special coins and postage stamps on Lord Jagannath, said union petroleum
minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a meeting with Union tourism minister
Mahesh Sharma in New Delhi on Friday. The two ministers are scheduled to visit
Odisha on March 20 to review Nabakalebara preparations.
To promote the festival, the state tourism
department is also busy preparing a documentary on Nabakalebara. The movie is
being directed by noted filmmaker Nilamadhab Panda.
Source:-The Time of India
