Jagannath Temple
Servitors oppose opening of Jagannath temple in Puri
Puri/UNI: Almost all the servitors of Sri Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri on Monday opposed the opening of the temple for the devotees, at a virtual conference of the temple Chief Administrator Krishna Kumar held to seek their views on the issue.
The chief administrator held the meeting after the Chief Secretary wrote letters to the temple administration and district collectors to file a report on the possibility of opening of the temple within ten days after consulting all stakeholders.
Kumar had held the first round of consultation and sought the views of Pratihari, Poojapanda, Suar Mahasuar and Khuntia —the four important nijogs of the temple and with temple managing committee members through video conferencing on the issue on Oct 9 last, and the second round was held on Monday.
The consultation would continue for six days. After gathering the opinion of all nijogs and stakeholders a meeting of temple managing body and Chhatisha nijog would be held where the issue of opening the temple gates for devotees would be discussed, informed the Administrator (rituals) of the temple.
The temple was closed for devotees since March 20 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Kumar consulted Garabadu, Mahajan, Puspalak and Bimanbadu nijogs over the issue on Monday. This apart he too sought opinion of Chhatisha nijog Nayak, Bhitarchhu Mahapatra, Tauchhs Mahapatra, Pujapanda, Deula Karan and Tadhau Karan the key servitors of the temple.
Almost all the servitors opposed the idea of opening the temple for devotees.
Satyasundar Simhari, Assistant Secretary of Puspalak, and Raghunath Kar of Mahajan nijog pointed out that hundreds of devotees, mostly elder women, would throng the city and stay for one month to observe Kartik brat.
This apart Nagarjun Vesha scheduled for last day of Kartik would attract lakhs of devotees. It would be impossible on the part of the administration to enforce Covid norms and infection would surge beyond imagination, they said.
At present hundreds of Servitors are affected by the virus and about a dozen succumbed to it.
About sixty pe rcent servitors got infected and their substitutes were now performing services. If they also fall sick, it would be difficult to perform daily rituals of deities, they said.
The opening of the temple, they said, should be considered after the Nagarjun Vesha.
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