Odisha Servitors To Bang Gongs, Ring Bells Over Demand For Reopening Temples

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Mandira Sebayat Sangha (OMSS) will launch a statewide protest on October 28 to push for their demand for reopening temples with COVID-19 restrictions in place in the state.

Following a discussion with priests and servitors in Baripada Jagannath temple’s promise, president of the OMSS, Kameswar Tripathy told the media that they will lodge their protest by banging gongs and ringing bells in front of the temples at 9 am on October 28.

“We have no alternative means of earning, the servitors are struggling to make ends meet with temples shut since COVID-induced lockdown,” he said.

Tripathy said that they decided to embark on this novel protest to draw the government’s attention towards their predicament. “While restrictions have been lifted from other places, no decision has yet been taken with regards to temples. We have been requesting the government to reopen temples by adhering to COVID-19 guidelines,” he added.

On October 7, OMSS held a similar protest and servitors and many devotees across the state participated in it.

The following day, the Odisha government directed district collectors to consider the possibility of reopening of major temples and places of worship and submit an action plan by consulting all stakeholders within 10 days.

Despite seven rounds of talks with various stakeholders, the Puri Jagannath Temple Administration is yet to arrive at a unanimous decision to reopen the 12th-century shrine.

While hearing a PIL, the Orissa High Court recently directed the state government and State Endowment Commissioner to take an expeditious view of providing financial assistance or ration supply to priests or consider reopening temples which are closed for over six months in the wake of the pandemic.

All religious places and places of worship will remain out of bounds for public till October 31, 2020, in accordance with the Unlock 5 guidelines of the government.