Petition Filed In Orissa HC Against Mukti Mandap Of Jagannath Temple In Puri; Know Why

Cuttack: A case has been filed in Orissa High Court against Mukti Mandap of Jagannath temple in Puri for approving the almanacs which have provided wrong information about the date of Makar Sankranti.

Senior advocates Khirod Kumar Raut and Bibhudhendra Mishra in their petition filed in the High Court have stated that all major almanacs followed by the people in Odisha including Siddhant Darpan of Samant Chandra Sekhar, Biraja Panji, Sarala Panji, Rashtriya Panchang, approved by the Central government, and traditional almanacs in the country have made the astronomical calculation to fix the date of Makar Sankranti, which is also known as Pana Sankranti, on April 13 this year.

On the other hand, Jagannath Panji published by Radharaman Press, Odisha Kohinoor Panjika and Khadiratna Panjika, which have been approved by the Mukti Mandap, have put the date of Makar Sankranti on April 14 by making wrong astronomical calculations, the petitioners said.

Since the wrong information in the almanacs approved by the Mukti Mandap would mislead the people and affect the traditional religious practices, the advocates sought the high court’s intervention for correct revision of the dates of festivals and different holy occasions.

The Mukti Mandap Sabha, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the publishers of the almanac concerned, and the state government have been made opposite parties in the petition,