Protest Over Restricting Devotees’ Entry To Sanctum Sanctorum Of Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: Activists of Jagannath Sena staged a demonstration in front of
Singhadwara of Jagannath Temple in Puri on Sunday, protesting against the ban
imposed by the state government on entry of devotees into the temple’s
sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagruha).

The agitators also burnt the effigy of law minister demanding
immediate withdrawal of the decision, which they argued hurt the sentiments
of the devotees.

On Saturday, the law department, in a letter to Puri collector and SP,
stated that darshan of the deities in the temple by the devotees,
including VIPs, shall be restricted up to Bhittar Katha, around 10 metre away from the Garbhagruha.

No one, except servitors having actual seba on any particular day, should be allowed into the Garbhagruha. Entry into the sanctum sanctorum during Paramanik Darshan and Sahana Mela Darshan should be stopped, the letter added.