Puri: Embroiled in a controversy over the newly-built shrine at Digha in West Bengal, Puri Daitapati Nijog secretary Ramakrushna Dasmahaptra appeared before the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in the pilgrim town for questioning.
As per sources, the senior servitor was questioned as part of the ongoing probe into alleged use of surplus Neem wood from Nabakalehar ceremony of Puri Srimandir for the recently-inaugurated Jagannath temple at Digha.
He visited the SJTA office and appeared for before the temple administration, which had earlier issued him a notice for appearance.
The move came after the state government ordered a probe into alleged use of surplus Neem wood from the 2015 Nabakalebar at Jagannath Temple in Puri in making of idols for Digha shrine, which was inaugurated on April 30.
Notably, the senior Daitapati servitor had attended consecration ceremony at Digha temple on invitation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Dasmohapatra reportedly told some Bengali channels that he had taken surplus wood from Nabakalebar at Puri Jagannath Temple for making the idols for Digha shrine.
As the issue sparked widespread outrage in Odisha following his statement, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan asked the SJTA to conduct a probe into the entire episode.
The senior servitor reportedly told TV channel in West Bengal that the idols for Digha temple were made from leftover neem wood collected for Nabakalebar of deities in 2015. However, he denied the report at a press conference in Puri after he returned from the event. He claimed that the idols the idols for Digha Jagannath temple were carved from ordinary neem wood under his supervision in Puri.
As his statements triggered a major controversy, the Odisha Government directed the SJTA to conduct a probe into the reports. Law Minister Harichandan has said that appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty in the matter.
New idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan are made using sacred neem wood during Nabakalehar ritual. It was last held in 2015.
Following the government order, chief administrator of SJTA Arabinda Padhee on Saturday convened a meeting of all traditional establishment heads like Deula Karan, Tadhau Karan, Pattajoshi Mahapatra, Chhatisha Nijog president and Bhitarchhu Mahapatra, and discussed the matter with them.
He also discussed the issue with Badagrahis (four Daita servitors in charge of each deity during the Rath Yatra), who participated in the 2015 Nabakalebar ritual and recorded their statements. However, only three Badagrahis attended the meeting. They all suggested a thorough probe into this most sensitive issue involving the emotions and religious sentiments of the devotees.
The SJTA also issued notices to the president and secretaries of all nijogs (associations of different types of servitors) to submit in writing, by 5 pm on Sunday, positively, if they have knowledge or information on the matter.
