Odisha: Complaint Against Another Website ‘Cheating’ Devotees In Name Of Lord Jagannath

Puri: Another website, Shaligram Shala, allegedly duping devotees on the pretext of performing special puja at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, has come to the fore with a senior servitor lodging a formal complaint against it here on Tuesday.

The website is charging thousands of rupees from the devotees of its services with the prices mentioned in USD as well. The price for the special puja of Lord Jagannath and mantras is Rs 4,500 or 59 USD. The website also offers discounts for conducting Brahman Bhoj at Rs 6,000 or 79 USD and other services.

“Devotees can donate directly to Srimandir instead of falling into the trap of such websites and apps. Some people from here are involved in such fraud. We have demanded a detailed probe into the matter,” said Binay Dasmohapatra, senior servitor.

Earlier,  Singhadwar police here had written to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, asking it to submit a report ascertaining the veracity of an online platform, Utsav, run by a Kolkata-based firm that allegedly claimed to facilitate online pujas at the 12th-century temple and home deliver ‘prasad’. The platform had advertised booking for daily and special pujas at the Srimandir including the Atika Bandha (crown tying ritual) which is not being held in the temple.

The officials of the online platform are likely to depose before police on July 7, sources said.