Odisha: Two Daitapatis suspended for obstructing Nabakalebara Rituals

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), which has been under fire for the Nabakalebara fiasco, has cracked the whip and suspended two Daitapatis – Jayakrushna Das Mohapatra and his father Kashinath Das Mohapatra and barred them from participating in any rituals till further notice. The move is seen as mere eyewash, as the Daitapatis can get the stay order from the court, as ensured by the SJTA.

The SJTA, which is yet to complete its investigation, has put the blame on the father-son duo, saying the rituals got delayed due to their stubbornness. It was Jayakrushna Mohapatra, who demanded his father to be present during the ‘Ghata Parivartan’. When the Badagrahis, who were entrusted with the task, protested and tried to prevent them, the mess occurred.

“Jayakrushna Das Mohapatra and his father Kashinath Das Mohapatra have been suspended from Daita Seva for an indefinite period under section 21 (B) of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954,” SJTA chief administrator Suresh Mohapatra.

Kashinath Das Mohapatra questioned the decision and threatened to move the court against it. The father-son duo maintained that they did not do anything, which would invite punishment. It was a collective decision of all Daitapatis to allow four seniors to witness Ghata Parivartan. We should not be singled out, they maintained. Jayakarushna Das Mohapatra is the President of Puri Town BJD.