Odisha Govt To Perform ‘Pratikar Puja’ For Adapa Pahandi Mishap: Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan

Bhubaneswar: Terming the incident that happened during Adapa Mandap Bije ritual of Lord Balabhadra during Rath Yatra in Puri as an accident, Law Minister Pritivhraj Harichandan on Saturday said that Odisha government will perform a ‘Pratikar Puja’ (remedial ritual) for the mishap.

Talks have been held with the Mukti Mandap pundits regarding the decision to conduct ‘Pratikar Puja’ for the Adapa Mandap Pahandi mishap, the Minister told reporters.

The Mukti Mandap pundits will examine the matter threadbare and decide the schedule for holding of the remedial puja, he said.

Stating that whatever had happened during the Adapa Mandal Pahandi of Lord Balabhadra was an accident, the Minister said that no portion the idol fell on the ground after it slipped. Lord’s idol was resting on the shoulders of the servitors after it slipped, he said.

Findings of the investigation conducted into the incident showed that the mishap took place because of negligence and concrete steps are being taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future, Harichandan said.
Stating that an important meeting of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee was held on Friday, he said the final report of the probe conducted into the Adapa Mandal mishap is yet to be received and necessary steps will be taken after the complete report is submitted.

It may be noted that Lord Balabhadra’s idol slipped and fell on while being taken by the servitors to the Adapa Mandap inside Gundicha Temple in ‘Pahandi’ procession on July 9 night. Several servitors were injured in the mishap.

Following the mishap, the SJTA formed a three-member committee, comprising ADM, Administrator (Development), and an officer of DSP rank, to investigate the incident.