BHUBANESWAR: A section of servitors of
Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday threatened to boycott rituals on Debasnan
Purnima (June 2), protesting the shrine administration's ban on devotees from
touching the deities on the bathing mandap. Debasnan Purnima is a vital ritual
in the run-up to Rath Yatra.
"On Monday, the temple administration announced the ban. We will protest if the devotees are barred from touching the deities," Daitapati Nijog's assistant general secretary Binayak Dasmohapatra told the media.
The nijog demanded that the temple administration revoke the decision. "The temple body took the decision without consulting us. Many of our members are outside Puri as part of Banajaga Yatra," said Narasingha Patimohapatra, another servitor.
Temple's chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra said the administration will go ahead with the restriction. "We will hold discussions with the Daitapati Nijog soon and seek its cooperation for smooth conduct of the ritual," said Mohapatra.
The temple administration said devotees would be given more time to see the deities on the Snana Mandap, facing Grand Road.
This time the temple administration has also decided to stop Nabajouban Darshan (first sight of deities in newly-created idols a day before Rath Yatra), much to the chagrin of priests.
"On Nabajouban Darshan day during 1977 Nabakalebara, lakhs of devotees entered the temple, creating chaos. It was not possible for the authorities to control the mob. During 1996 Nabakalebara, the public darshan was stopped. We will adopt the same preventive measure this time too," Mohapatra had told. However, devotees will be allowed to enter sub-shrines and Ananda Bazaar inside the temple, he said.
"Last year, we did not allow devotees to climb onto chariots during Rath Yatra going by the Orissa high court order," he said.
"On Monday, the temple administration announced the ban. We will protest if the devotees are barred from touching the deities," Daitapati Nijog's assistant general secretary Binayak Dasmohapatra told the media.
The nijog demanded that the temple administration revoke the decision. "The temple body took the decision without consulting us. Many of our members are outside Puri as part of Banajaga Yatra," said Narasingha Patimohapatra, another servitor.
Temple's chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra said the administration will go ahead with the restriction. "We will hold discussions with the Daitapati Nijog soon and seek its cooperation for smooth conduct of the ritual," said Mohapatra.
The temple administration said devotees would be given more time to see the deities on the Snana Mandap, facing Grand Road.
This time the temple administration has also decided to stop Nabajouban Darshan (first sight of deities in newly-created idols a day before Rath Yatra), much to the chagrin of priests.
"On Nabajouban Darshan day during 1977 Nabakalebara, lakhs of devotees entered the temple, creating chaos. It was not possible for the authorities to control the mob. During 1996 Nabakalebara, the public darshan was stopped. We will adopt the same preventive measure this time too," Mohapatra had told. However, devotees will be allowed to enter sub-shrines and Ananda Bazaar inside the temple, he said.
"Last year, we did not allow devotees to climb onto chariots during Rath Yatra going by the Orissa high court order," he said.
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