Arpan Rath: Lord Jagannath Does Not Move In Vans & Trolleys Asking For Rice, Says Bhubaneswar MP

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday came down heavily on Odisha government’s Arpan Rath collecting rice and other materials for inauguration of heritage corridor project in Puri.

In a series of posts on social media X and Facebook, the MP said, “Odisha now sees the sad spectacle of Lord Jagannath moving in small pick-up vans & trolleys collecting rice. Which culture of Jagannath is this? Is this Odia culture or an import from some outside state?”

The BJP leader said the tradition of Jagannath culture suggests that people should have ‘Mahaprasad’ after having darshan of the Lord. “Odisha culture does not envisage Lord Jagannath moving around in vans and trolleys asking for rice. This is the ultimate expression of foolishness. It hurts all. Who advises them?,” she added.

She further said after 24 years of BJD rule in the state, it is unimaginable to see such scenes on roads and streets of villages and hamlets of the state.

During the Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival), sibling deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra come out of the temple to travel in their respective grandly decorated chariots on Bada Danda (grand road). Lord Jagannath is not taken in such small vans and trolleys to collect rice from the people, the MP said.

“In our civilisation and culture, there is no tradition of Lord Jagannath roaming in trolley, auto, van and cot. It is clear that only for the sake of vote politics, the religious belief and practices of 4.5 crore Odias is being misused in this way,” Saragi said.

Stating that the emotion of Odias was being hurt and misused with insensitivity, she called upon all Jagannath devotees to protest strongly regardless of party opinion.