Puri servitor gets show-cause notice over comments made during Digha Jagannath Temple inauguration
The Puri Jagannath Temple's administration has issued a show cause notice to a servitor, who participated in the inaugural ceremony of the new Jagannath Temple in West Bengal's Digha, asking him to explain his statements on using leftover wood from a sacred ritual for idols in the new shrine.
The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has asked Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra to respond to the notice in seven days, failing which strict disciplinary action will be initiated as per the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955.
The notice issued by SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee said there were allegations regarding Dasmohapatra's interview to a section of the media during the Digha temple's inaugural ceremony in which the senior servitor claimed that he provided idols for the new shrine that were made from the leftover wood from the Nabakalebar rituals held in 2015.
Dasmohapatra later allegedly contradicted his statement, saying the idols for the new shrine were not made of the leftover wood from Nabakalebar rituals. He said he supervised the crafting of the idols for the Digha Temple.
Nabakalebar is a sacred ritual of Lord Jagannath, in which the old wooden idols of sibling deities are replaced with new ones. The idols are made of neem wood. The Nabakalebar ritual is performed at an interval of 12 or 19 years, coinciding with astronomical considerations.
It has been alleged that the contradictory statements created confusion among devotees of Lord Jagannath and tarnished the dignity of the 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple.
As per rituals, the leftover wood collected during the Nabakalebar are preserved in the Darrughar (wood storage) of the Puri temple and is meant only to be used for the needs of Lord Jagannath at the appropriate time. The show cause notice alleged that despite being a senior servitor and being fully aware of the rules, he created confusion among the minds of Jagannath devotees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Rs 2.25 crore reward for Daitapatis for smooth conduct of Jagannath Rath Yatra
BHUBANESWAR/PURI: In a massive incentive, the Law department has approved Rs 2.25 crore for Daitapati servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple if they ensure a smooth Rath Yatra. A proposal in this regard was sent by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) recently. In a letter to the Srimandir chief administrator, the department informed that the government has approved Rs 2.25 crore as a 'special reward' for Daita servitors for disciplined conduct during the annual festival of the Trinity. The money will be paid from the SJTA funds and replenished with the allotment of funds as special grants to the SJTA at the supplementary budget stage. Other servitors welcomed the incentives for Daitapatis and urged release of funds for all servitors who render services connected with the Rath Yatra. In another development, the I&PR department has decided to set up temporary information kiosks at various places in Puri to reach out to maximum number of devotees coming to the city for Rath Yatra. At a preparatory meeting on Thursday, principal secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh said various programmes are being planned by the department for the upcoming Rath Yatra which includes folk art performances and live broadcasting of the festival. Meanwhile, DIG S Praveen Kumar informed that at least 70 platoons of police force along with four senior commandant rank police officers and 450 other officers will be deployed in Puri for the Snana Purnima on June 11. Addressing the press, the DIG said, 'Our primary aim is to bring discipline to the darshan of the deities, ensure the security of devotees, and regulate traffic.' Earlier in the day, the DIG discussed the security issue with Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Kumar, and other senior officers of the district. The temple administration has also conducted a number of meetings with temple servitors and Daitapatis for the timely observance of daily rituals of the deities.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business Standard
Odisha Police prepares massive security for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra
Odisha Police has prepared massive security arrangements for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath later this month, an official said on Tuesday. Director General of Police Y B Khurania on Monday held a high-level meeting with top police officers including those looking after intelligence, law and order, rail and coastal security. He ordered them to give special attention to incidents like possible stampede situation, drive against criminals and devotees amenities. The DGP also stressed on the deployment of K9 squad or dog squad, the official said. Several Union ministers and many VVIPs are likely to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has invited many Union ministers and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra. Last year President Droupadi Murmu had witnessed the Rath Yatra festival in Puri. The DGP also directed to ensure smooth traffic movement, barricade arrangements, and quick resolution of various problems in collaboration with the district administration. The meeting also discussed the issue of dealing with emergency situations, the official said. Installation of CCTV at various important places in the city, road dividers, traffic zones for traffic management, adequate parking arrangements at various places in the city, maintenance of an orderly traffic system and others were discussed in the meeting. Similarly, patrolling by police on the sea beach and opening of temporary police outposts there were also discussed in detail. The Odisha police expect a congregation of lakhs of devotees during the Rath Yatra festival which is celebrated for about a fortnight. While the Lord's bathing ceremony 'Snan Yatra' will be observed on June 11, the Rath Yatra and chariot pulling is scheduled on June 27. Devotees in large numbers also congregate in Puri on 'Naba Jouban darshan' day (new face darshan) on June 26, a day before chariot pulling. The Hera Panchami festival will be held on July 1 followed by Sandhya Darshan on July 4 and Bahuda Yatra (return car festival) on July 5. The Suna Besha (golden attire on chariot) on July 6, Adharpana (drink offering) ritual on July 7 and finally Niladri Bije (return to temple) on July 8, will mark the end of the Rath Yatra festival.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Odisha Police prepares massive security arrangements for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri
Cuttack, Odisha Police has prepared massive security arrangements for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath later this month, an official said on Tuesday. Director General of Police Y B Khurania on Monday held a high-level meeting with top police officers including those looking after intelligence, law and order, rail and coastal security. He ordered them to give special attention to incidents like possible stampede situation, drive against criminals and devotees amenities. The DGP also stressed on the deployment of K9 squad or dog squad, the official said. Several Union ministers and many VVIPs are likely to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has invited many Union ministers and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states to visit Puri during the Rath Yatra. Last year President Droupadi Murmu had witnessed the Rath Yatra festival in Puri. The DGP also directed to ensure smooth traffic movement, barricade arrangements, and quick resolution of various problems in collaboration with the district administration. The meeting also discussed the issue of dealing with emergency situations, the official said. Installation of CCTV at various important places in the city, road dividers, traffic zones for traffic management, adequate parking arrangements at various places in the city, maintenance of an orderly traffic system and others were discussed in the meeting. Similarly, patrolling by police on the sea beach and opening of temporary police outposts there were also discussed in detail. The Odisha police expect a congregation of lakhs of devotees during the Rath Yatra festival which is celebrated for about a fortnight. While the Lord's bathing ceremony 'Snan Yatra' will be observed on June 11, the Rath Yatra and chariot pulling is scheduled on June 27. Devotees in large numbers also congregate in Puri on 'Naba Jouban darshan' day on June 26, a day before chariot pulling. The Hera Panchami festival will be held on July 1 followed by Sandhya Darshan on July 4 and Bahuda Yatra on July 5. The Suna Besha on July 6, Adharpana ritual on July 7 and finally Niladri Bije on July 8, will mark the end of the Rath Yatra festival.
