The Odiya community in the UK is gearing up for the first convention of its kind with Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb – king of Puri, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Known as the Adhyasevaka or the chief servitor of Lord Shree Jagannatha, Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb is set to visit the UK to spread the essence of Hindu philosophy and spread the message of Shree Jagannatha.
The UK visit of the 70-year-old maharaja, the current head of the house of the Bhoj Dynasty, along with his wife Maharani Leelavati Patamahadei, has been organised by the Shree Jagannatha Society of the UK – a registered charity which has been actively engaged over the last 50 years in promoting and participating in innumerable spiritual activities in India and abroad. The Maharaja is also the key spiritual advisor of the organisation.
During his UK tour, he is scheduled to cover London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester and Bath.
The seminars will be marked with presentations and keynote speeches delivered by His Excellency, followed by prasad (food) and cultural programs.
In Manchester, which will host his penultimate seminar, the Odiya community is enthused by this holy visit as it will also be coupled with the Rath Yatra ceremony to follow soon afterwards. Siba Ranjan Biswal, one of the representatives from Manchester’s Odiya community, told iGlobal that a crowdfunding appeal has also been announced.
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He said: "We're delighted that Gajapati Maharaj and Mani Ma (the Queen) are visiting us. We are appealing for funds from people from all walks of life to make his visit memorable. Mani Ma, as we call the Queen, is originally from Nepal. We would love to welcome our Nepal fraternity and everybody else to join us in this auspicious event."
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb has served the Lord since 1970 after his coronation as the king in Puri at 17. He is the Chairman of the Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee, Puri, and discharges his statutory duties, including the world-famous Ratha Yatra (pictured above) in Puri – the capital of Odisha.
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He holds a Master’s in law from Northwestern University, Chicago, US and pursued legal practice for a brief period at the Indian Supreme Court before submitting to the service of the Lord.