Priests Revolt, to Challenge Ban Order in Court

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]


Jun 26, 2017 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA —

The tug-of-war between Shree Jagannath Temple administration and priests on the issue of banning pilgrims' access onto the chariots and touching the Deities is heading for a showdown, with the priests on Sunday announcing to move the court against the ban order.

Showing the sign of revolt, priests allowed hundreds of devotees to touch the Deities, while the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were being taken from the temple onto the chariots in ceremonial Pahandi procession on the day of Rath Yatra. This, despite the massive awareness campaigns launched by the temple administration earlier through posters, warning devotees of police action if they touch the Deities or climb the chariots.

"Nobody can stop devotees from coming close to the Deities. We will allow devotees to touch the Deities in the coming years as well. We will soon move the Supreme Court, challenging the Orissa High Court's order in 2014, banning pilgrims from mounting chariots and touching the Deities," said Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, president of Daitapati Nijog, a vital body of temple priests that perform key rituals during Rath Yatra.

Dasmohapatra even made a scathing attack on Puri scion, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb for endorsing the ban order. "Why is the Maharaja touching the Deities," asked Dasmohapatra.



[ Photo: Sampradaya Sun ]


In 2014, the Orissa High Court ordered the state-run temple administration to ensure devotees do not touch the Deities nor climb chariots following recommendation by Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati. The restriction since left the priests in high dudgeon, as many of them were minting money by escorting rich pilgrims onto chariots. Some priests had then questioned the Shankaracharya's recommendation, forcing the top seer to boycott the 2014 Rath Yatra in a huff.

Dasmohapatra parried when asked as to why they want to challenge the 2014 order after three years. "We are not going to bend the High Court directive. We have no problem if priests challenge the High Court order," said District Collector Aravinda Agarwal, who is also the Deputy Chief Administrator of the 12th Century shrine.

Asked whether the administration will take action against those devotees who touched the Deities inside the temple during Pahandi procession, Agarwal said he would verify the allegations. "We will examine it. We will verify the CCTV cameras of the temple. Action will be taken against violators," Agarwal said.

Last year, police arrested a devotee who climbed a chariot in front of Gundicha Temple, in the guise of a priest. Cases were also registered against some other devotees and priests for violating the order. Chaos had prevailed on the last day of car festival in 2016, when some priests allegedly heckled Agarwal for opposing the presence of their family members on chariots.


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