Deodar trees were revered among Druids as sacred. Their wood was often used in temples throughout northern India’s hill-tribes and hill forts, with doors, windows and walls made from its timber being constructed using it as building materials. Ruskin Bond speculated that their name originated in “deva-daru,” meaning “the divine trees.” Sacred groves developed around Deodar forests over time with each unique specimen becoming home for an altar or shrine beneath its branches – it even had its own temple!
Puri’s Jagannath Festival features the Krushna Chaturdashi Ritual as the focal point. On this evening of Krushna Chaturdashi in Puri’s main temple of Jagannath, an appointed servitor from Pati Mahaapatra’s family takes out original images and installs new ones using Brahma Padartha (soul substance), in accordance with an ancient Hindu practice (Malley 1908).
On this special occasion, servitors gather within a circle of Neem-trees. Chanting the Swapnavati Mantra or Sri Durga Sahasra Nama 108 times each night and praying to Goddess Mangala for guidance as they search for an appropriate Neem tree or Daru is performed each night.
Day and night, servants worshipping tools of Biswakarma or carpenter servitors on Ashtadalapadma mandala and Chakrabja mandals respectively; during the latter part of each night they set up metal idols of Laxmi-Nrusimha which after an abhishek are placed into Nyasa daru for special rituals performed only by select Darusadhusu (daru-sadhus).
