Family Eating Jagannath Mahaprasad On Table Sparks Row; Puri Temple Authorities Issue Appeal
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Considering local sentiments and religious beliefs, the temple authorities have also instructed hotels in Puri to caution their guests against such practices.
A family of 10 sparked controversy by eating Mahaprasad from the Jagannath shrine in Odisha's Puri on a dining table, prompting temple authorities to issue an appeal to devotees.
Mahaprasad is the sacred food offered to Lord Jagannath, the deity of the 12th-century temple, and has traditionally been served and consumed while sitting on the ground.
The family members, including children and elderly individuals, were seen seated at a dining table in a beach resort in Puri as a priest served them the Mahaprasad.
After a man confronted the family, a woman insisted they had inquired beforehand before choosing to eat at the table. The video then shows the man turning to the priest and demanding to know why he permitted it.
ଭିଡ଼ିଓ ରେ ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ ସେ ହୋଟେଲର କର୍ମଚାରୀ ମନା କରିବା ସତ୍ତ୍ବେ ସେମାନେ କିପରି ଡାଇନିଂ ଟେବୁଲ ଉପେର ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ବାଢ଼ି ଗୋଡ଼ ହଲେଇ ମୋବାଇଲ ଚଲାଇ ପାଉଛନ୍ତି..ଆଉ ତହୁଁ ବଡ଼ ସେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ମହାଶୟ ଯିଏ ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ତାଙ୍କୁ ବାଢ଼ିକି ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି।ଆଉ ସେ ଦାଢ଼ିଆ ବାବା ସବୁ ଦେଖି ମଧ୍ଯ ଚୁପ ହୋଇ ଠିଆ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି।ଦୋଷ କାହାକୁ ଦେବେ? pic.twitter.com/ktH4KLpTkd — 🦋šrαdhα🦋 (@princess_sradha) May 16, 2025
Temple Authorities Step In
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said that it was aware of the video showing a family eating the Mahaprasad on the table, which was against tradition and had evoked a 'reaction" from the devotees.
They stated that eating Mahaprasad at the table goes against tradition and urged devotees to uphold the temple's centuries-old customs by eating it on the floor.
'It is clarified from the side of the temple that the divine Mahaprasad of the Lord is worshiped in the form of Annabrahma. The ritual tradition of eating Mahaprasad sitting on the ground has existed since time immemorial. Therefore, all devotees are humbly requested to refrain from activities that are against the tradition, like eating Mahaprasad at the dining table," the statement read.
pic.twitter.com/dMFOD1f8CS — Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) May 17, 2025
Considering local sentiments and religious beliefs, the temple authorities have also instructed hotels in Puri to caution their guests against such practices.
First Published:
May 18, 2025, 12:38 IST
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