Google doodle for Nabakalebara festival

Nabakalebara festival is an ancient ritual associated with most of the Jagannath Temples when the Idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by a new set of Idols. This year, the state government has made it mandatory for all departments to promote Nabakalebara logo and banner on their official portals. The government has also urged Google to create a Google Doodle of Nabakalebara’s Rath Yatra on July 18. A Google Doodle is a special and temporary alteration of the logo on Google`s homepage that is intended to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people.

On May 18, Information Technology (IT), secretary, Pradeep Jena wrote to all revenue divisional commissioners, district collectors and SPs to display Nabakalebara streamer on district official websites and portals of subordinate offices. "The streamer will also flash the dedicated website on Nabakalebara (www.nabakalebara.go.in), launched by chief minister Naveen Patnaik recently. The objective is to make Nabakalebara a `world event` and Odisha as a preferred destination for tourists," the letter said.

Jena also wrote to Google India managing director Rajan Anandan and requested him to create a Nabakalebara design for display as Google Doodle. "We have requested him to give us appointment next week so that I and the IT minister can meet him to discuss how to popularize Nabakalebara on Google," Jena said. "We will request Google to create a map of Puri to guide devotees in identifying their hotels, temporary shelters and important landmarks," Jena added.

Tourism and culture secretary, Arvind Padhee has appealed to celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Anupam Kher and Kapil Sharma to promote Nabakelebara through Twitter. "Grandest of all festivals of Lord Jaga.