Two groups of Puri servitors ask members to stay away from Digha Jagannath temple rituals
Puri, Two major associations of servitors of the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri on Tuesday asked its members not to take part in the inaugural rituals at the newly-constructed shrine in West Bengal's Digha.
The consecration ceremony of the Jagannath temple in the seaside town of Digha will be held on the auspicious occasion of the 'Akshay Trithiya' on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Digha temple, built by the West Bengal government, is a replica of the shrine in Puri, located around 350 km away. It has been built on a 24-acre plot at a cost of nearly ₹250 crore.
The Suar Mahasuar Nijog and Puspalaka Nijog have asked their members to stay away from the consecration ceremony or face a boycott at the Puri temple.
While members of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog prepare food at the Puri temple, the Puspalak Nijog members decorate the sibling deities of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.
"We welcome the new Jagannath temple in Digha. There is no bar on servitors visiting the Digha temple, but they cannot cook there," said Padmanava Mahasuar, the president of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog.
He said there are hundreds of Jagannath temples across the country, but the rituals of the shrine in Puri are based on scriptures.
"The Puri temple is mentioned in mythology because Lord Vishnu have food here. Therefore, the 'Suars' and 'Mahasuars' have a special place in the shrine. They are not mere cook, but blessed ones dedicated to the service of the Lord," he said.
"They should not cook in other places like catering services," he added.
Cautioning its members against participating in rituals at the Digha temple, Puspalaka Nijog's secretary Harekrushna Singhari said, "Any member found defying the order will face strict action."
Sudarshan Pujapanda, who performs pujas at the Puri temple, also denounced the idea of servitors performing rituals at the Digha temple.
"We should uphold the pride of being the servitors of Shree Jagannath Dham. The servitors here are not on anyone's payroll, but are dedicated to the service of the lord. They perform rituals as part of devotion and dedication to the Maha Vishnu, who is worshipped in the form of Lord Jagannath," he said.
Speaking to PTI over the phone, Rajesh Daitapati of the Daitapati Nijog said, "About 50 servitors from Puri have gone to Digha on the invitation of the Digha Jagannath Temple's trust board. They will take part in the inauguration of the temple."
However, he did not clarify if any members of the Suar Mahasuar and Pushpalak Nijogs had gone to Digha.
Daitapati Nijog is responsible for some rituals during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Among them is carrying the idols of the deities to their chariots.
A senior official of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration said, "If some servitors are going to perform rituals in Digha, it is their conscience. The administration has no role in interfering with the procedures of other temples. Our priority is to maintain age-old rituals in Puri."
Lakhs of devotees from West Bengal visit the Jagannath temple in Puri every year.
The day-to-day activities of the Digha temple will be managed by ISKCON.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bengal govt files case against BJP's Koustav Bagchi over remarks on CM Mamata
Kolkata: The West Bengal government has filed a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Koustav Bagchi at the Calcutta City Sessions Court over his alleged statements against chief minister Mamata Banerjee. According to the court order, a copy of which was seen by HT, Bagchi has 'repeatedly made derogatory comments and defamatory statements against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.' Bagchi, however, argued that whatever he mentioned is from a book written by retired Indian administrative service officer and former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Dipak Ghosh, who died in March this year. 'The book is not banned. I mentioned some of its contents. I will prove in court that the charges hold no water,' Bagchi told HT. The state's petition was heard earlier this week by the court's chief judge Sukumar Ray, who passed the order on June 5, saying Bagchi — who is also a Calcutta High Court lawyer — will be heard on June 18. The public prosecutor told the court that Bagchi made the comments against Banerjee 'with the sole intention to traduce her malevolently and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.' Section 356(2) deals with proclaimed offenders who can be tried in absentia. Also Read: BJP leader moves HC against plan for 100 civic volunteers at new Jagannath temple The state has also added Section 222(2) of the BNS, which deals with acts of defamation committed against high-ranking public servants such as the President, Vice-President, governors, and Union and state ministers. 'I have carefully perused the petition of the complainant including evidence, documentary and electronic... the complainant, being a public servant, is exempted to be examined on solemn affirmation,' the court order said, referring to videos on YouTube and a Bengali news channel that were produced as evidence. '...the accused should be given an opportunity of being heard,' the order added. No TMC leader commented on the case, saying it was an administrative matter.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Modi to attend 1st anniversary celebration of Majhi govt
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the first anniversary celebration of the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP govt in Odisha on June 20. This event will mark the end of the nine-day celebration starting June 12, when Majhi took oath last year. This anniversary marks a milestone for BJP, which defied expectations by forming a govt in Odisha for the first time, challenging the predictions of many political analysts. For Majhi, this occasion is not only a testament to his leadership but also a personal triumph, as he rose from humble beginnings as a sarpanch to the state's highest office. The BJP is keen to leverage this anniversary to highlight its achievements over the past year, portraying it as a period of remarkable success. Among the initiatives being showcased are the state govt's Rs 800 bonus per quintal of paddy and the "Subhadra" cash incentive scheme, which provides Rs 5,000 annually to around one crore women. These programmes are being positioned as key accomplishments of the Majhi administration, which also fulfilled several other emotive and symbolic poll promises, such as the opening of four gates of the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazon CFD : La clave para un ingreso extra (Conoce más) Empezar ahora Registrarse Undo Majhi, who succeeded Naveen Patnaik after his 24-year tenure as chief minister, is working to establish himself as a 'people's CM'. His approach contrasts sharply with that of his predecessor, as he emphasizes accessibility and engagement with the public. His participation in a marathon 12-hour debate on the Odisha University Amendment Bill, 2025, exemplifies his commitment to governance and legislative processes. Naveen was often criticised for skipping assembly when he was CM. Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari confirmed that Modi will attend the event on June 20, following a request from the CM. Although the anniversary falls on June 12, the Prime Minister's schedule necessitated a later visit. "The celebrations will span from June 12 to June 20, with various programmes planned to engage the public and highlight the govt's vision for the future," he said. The anniversary celebrations will include a press conference by the chief minister, discussions with intellectuals, and the unveiling of a vision document for 2036 and 2047. These events aim to reinforce the BJP's strategic goals and long-term plans for Odisha. The CM earlier announced the aspiration for Odisha to become a US $1.5 trillion economy by 2047 and US $500 billion by 2036, which requires a 9.2% growth rate. District-level programmes will also be organised to ensure widespread participation and engagement. Modi's visit will be his sixth to Odisha since Majhi assumed office, underscoring the importance of the state in the BJP's national strategy. During a recent visit to Delhi, Majhi invited the Prime Minister to attend the anniversary, highlighting the significance of this event for both the state and the party. As preparations continue, BJP is poised to use this anniversary as a platform to consolidate its position in Odisha and demonstrate its governance capabilities.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Govt., Opposition trade charges over Digha Jagannath temple prasad in West Bengal
A fresh controversy has erupted over the distribution of prasad (holy offering) at the newly constructed Jagannath temple at Digha, with Opposition parties alleging the West Bengal government was distributing 'sweets from local shops' as 'prasad' of the temple. The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the West Bengal government of playing with the sentiments of Hindu devotees. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while inaugurating the temple in April 2025, had directed her government that prasad from the temple should be distributed across the State. Also read | The tussle for temple turf In accordance with the Chief Minister's directive, the District Magistrate distributes prasad through the 'Duare Sarkar' scheme of doorstep delivery of rations under the Public Distribution System. 'All District Magistrates were ordered to distribute prasad through Duare ration. The boxes of sweets being bought from the local sweet shop is basically demeaning Hindu dharma,' Mr. Adhikari said. The BJP leader also said the State government had allocated ₹20 for a packet of prasad. He had nothing against the allocation of funds for the distribution of prasad, Mr. Adhikari said, but added that the way sweets from local shops were being distributed as prasad amounted to hurting religious sentiments. The West Bengal government was quick to dismiss the allegations raised by the BJP leadership. State's Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen said the allegations made by the Leader of the Opposition were a 'pack of lies'. 'Everyone does not have the resources to visit the Jagannath temple [in Digha] and have the prasad offered at the temple, and that's why it was planned to distribute prasad to every family of the State. The BJP is now trying to stoop low and demean that,' Mr. Sen said. The BJP had become 'scared of the enthusiasm and frenzy around the Jagannath temple', Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh said, attributing the comments by Opposition leaders to this. More than 20 lakh people have visited the temple in the month since its doors were opened for common visitors on April 30, according to the organisers. Built on the lines of the famous 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri, the Digha Jagannath temple has also attracted controversy, with the West Bengal temple authorities using the term 'Jagannath Dham' for the temple, a move opposed by the neighbouring State of Odisha. The Digha Jagannath temple project, conceived and executed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a cost of ₹250 crore to the State exchequer, has been witnessing large crowds of devotees over the past several weeks.
