Servitors’ Stir at Jagannath Puri Keeps Lords Hungry

By Express News Service

01st March 2015

PURI: Lord Jagannath and his siblings had to remain hungry for six hours on Saturday following a cease-work by ‘Suar’ and ‘Mahasuar’ clan of servitors (temple cooks).

They resorted to the agitation in protest against arrest of a servitor, Padmanava Pratihari, who was found selling ‘Mahaprasad’ outside the temple on Friday in violation of a directive by the temple administration that ‘Mahaprasad’ can only be sold at the Ananda Bazaar on the temple premises. Members of temple administration found Pratihari selling the ‘Mahaprasad’ and informed the Lion’s Gate police who arrested and forwarded him to court. The court rejected his bail plea and remanded him in judicial custody.

After ‘Sahana Mela’ (public darshan) on Saturday morning, the temple cooks did not allow ‘Rosha Homa’ (a ritual that is carried out before cooking) to be performed. As a result, ‘Ballav’ (breakfast) for the deities could not be prepared. Other rituals including preparation of lunch for the deities could not be performed. 

After Pratihari was released on bail, the servitors allowed ‘Rosha Homa’ at 3.45 pm. The breakfast and lunch were offered to the deities at 6.20 pm.

Temple Public Relations Officer Laxmidhar Pujapanda said the temple administration will soon discuss the issue with the Suar Mahasuar Nijog.

Source Info