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.