Odisha Govt forms panel for Puri Temple reform

Keeping an eye on the incident on attacking media persons and allegedly abusing to Puri District Collector Arvind Agrawal during the Niladre Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, the state government has set up a judicial commission to suggest reforms for the smooth management of the Sri Jagannath temple at Puri.

The commission would be headed by former Orissa High Court Judge Bimal Prasad Das.

“The commission will give suggestions on disciplined rituals, darshan for devotees, training and education to servitors, conservation of heritage and propagation of Jagannath culture,” said by Law Minister, Arun Sahu.

Sahu also stated that, the commission will be assisted by former Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Mahimohan Tripathy.

Chaos started when the District Collector Arvind Agarwal who was present at the spot trying to stop the servitors from taking devotees onto the chariot. He had a squabble with some servitors regarding the issue.

The servitors also attacked the media persons when they tried to find the reasons behind the delay in Pahandi and and the argument between the District Collector and the servitors which led to delay in Niladri Bije ritual as a young girl accompanied by a senior servitor, climbed the Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Nandighosa chariot of Lord Jagannath.

In the meantime, BJD vice-president and former Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro told, that the servitors at the Jagannath Temple, Puri has gone indiscipline and they were creating nuisance as nobody dares to tell them out of fear.

The Odisha IAS Officers’ Association had an emergency meeting regarding this issue which was held at the Panhta Niwas where 20 IAS officers, including Puri Collector Arvind Agrawal were present.