SJTA restricts Servitors on taking money from Devotees during Ratha Jatra

ONI Bureau: The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) directed daitapatis and sebayats not to receive any donations during Ratha Jatra.

After meeting with Daitapati Nijog, the SJTA chief Pradipta Mohapatra informed that 12 ‘Hundi’ or donation boxes will be installed on 3 chariots. Similarly 6 more donation boxes will be installed at Gundicha temple.

SJTA also restricted servitors from selling of tickets during Ratha Jatra. Appropriate action will be taken against the servitors for allowing the devotees to touch the deities during the Chariot Festival, informed SJTA chief.

Earlier, the Supreme Court directed to install 23 close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in small temples on the Jagannath temple complex to monitor the behaviour of servitors towards devotees.