Complaint Against Amazon For ‘Unauthorized’ Sale Of Puri Jagannath Temple’s Nirmalya Prasad

Puri: A servitor of Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri has lodged a complaint with Singhadwar police against e-commerce website Amazon India over ‘unauthorized’ sale of ‘Nirmalya Prasad’ on its shopping portal.

Nirmala is the dried rice of holy Maha Prasad, cooked in the 12th-century shrine.

Speaking to the media, the servitor, Sambhunath Khuntia, alleged that the e-commerce site is selling four pieces of ‘Khaja’, a ‘Nirmalya’ packet and some Tulasi (holy basil) leaves for Rs 1,500, claiming that the same belong to the temple. “This has been continuing for past three years. Where is the site procuring these stuff from, and whether locals or temple administration is involved in this?” he asked.

The servitor has sought stringent action against those involved.

In December 2020, Singhadwar police had registered a case against Amazon India over the same issue on the basis of a complaint filed by then temple’s administrator (development) Ajay Kumar Jena, seeking legal action.