Action Sought Against Non-Authorised Servitors Selling Mahaparasad In Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: In order to prevent harassment of the devotees inside Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, Suar Mahasuar Nijog has written to the SJTA seeking strict action against non-servitors selling Mahaprasad.

The Nijog, in its letter to chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri SP, temple supervisor and security officer, has stated that though only Supakar servitors are allowed to sell the Mahaprasad (cooked prasad) at Ananda Bazaar in the temple, some non-Supakar servitors have been found engaged in the sale.

“These non-servitors are not only charging high rate for the Mahaprasad to the devotees but also forcing them to purchase more quantity. In many cases, these salesmen have been found harassing and misbehaving with the devotees. On Monday, a non-Supakar servitor was arrested for his misconduct in Ananda Bazar. Lat year also, several similar cases had come to light,” the letter stated.

The matter was taken up at two-day meeting of Suar Mahasuar Nijog members. At the meeting, a 12-member committee was formed to identify the non-Supakars engaged in sale of Mahaprasad inside the temple and take necessary action against them.

Narayan Mahasuar, secretary of the Nijog, said, “Despite deployment of police inside the temple, violation of the guidelines of Srimandir Record of Rights that allow only Supakars to sell Mahaprasad has been reported several times. It has led to unpleasant and violent situations in the temple. Considering this, we have written to the authorities to take suitable action against violators of the norms.”