Puri: Another attempt by a non-Hindu to enter Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri was foiled on Tuesday as the police stopped a woman of foreign nationality before she could go inside the 12th-century shrine.
According to sources, taking advantage of heavy rush of devotees visiting the temple during holy month of Kartik, the woman reached the ‘Gumuta’ of the temple through the Singhadwar (Lions Gate). The Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) personnel spotted her there. They took the woman out and told her not to enter the temple again.
The woman engaged in an argument with the police. But the police could not understand her as she was speaking in a foreign language.
Neither the identity nor nationality of the woman has been ascertained. But she is suspected to be a Chinese national from her looks. The police have also not registered a case in this regard, the sources said.
As per the temple rules, the non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the 12th century temple. Such devotees can have a glimpse of the deities during Rath Yatra every year.
It may be noted that the police had detained 5 non-Hindu persons for entering the Jagannath temple on March 3. A group of 9 persons had come on a visit to the Pilgrim Town. While three of them waited in Parikram Marg, six others went inside the temple. Those, who went inside the temple, had darshan of sibling deities and even took Mahaprasad there.
On being enquired by some local people about their identity, the three persons waiting outside told them that they had come from Bangladesh.
Also Read: Police Detain 5 Non-Hindus For Entering Jagannath Temple In Odisha’s Puri – odishabytes