Priests Refuse to Obey Shrine Body's Proposal

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Chariot wheels, frame timbers readied for June 29th Rath Yatra at Puri
[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]

Jun 03, 2014 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — Priests belonging to Daitapati Nijog of Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday refused to accede to the shrine body's proposal to ban pilgrims from climbing chariots and touching the Deities during Rath Yatra.

Though the temple administration tried to take the servitors into confidence ahead of the June 29th Rath Yatra at a meeting in the evening, the effort fell by the wayside. "We still stand by what we had said earlier. We will not cooperate with the temple administration in the ensuing Rath Yatra if the administration does not revoke its ban proposal. Devotees should not be barred from climbing the chariots," Daitapati Nijog's President Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra told media persons.


Temple authorities discuss with Daitapati priests at Puri on Tuesday
[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]


With the car festival nearing, temple authorities said the ball is in the law department's court. "We tried to convince the priests, but to no avail. The proposal is awaiting approval from the law department," said a temple officer. "If the government does not approve, we will allow pilgrims to climb chariots," the officer said.

Puri Sankaracharya recently recommended the temple administration to make the chariots off-limits to devotees and described the practice as "anti-religion", much to the chagrin of Daitapati priests, who perform vital rituals during Rath Yatra. Puri scion Dibyasingha Deb corroborated the Puri seer and had termed climbing on chariots as a "great sin".

Temple authorities said the proposal is not intended to hurt the sentiments of devotees and priests. "We want to streamline the crowd. Presence of large number of devotees also led to delay in rituals in the past," the temple functionary said. "Recently some devotees were assaulted by police and priests atop the chariots because of rush."


Architects busy with chariot construction
[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]


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