Puri: On the eve of the New Year celebrations, a right-wing Hindu outfit staged a protest outside the Jagannath Temple here, opposing the administration’s decision to open the Temple early in the morning to enable devotees have a darshan of the sibling deities for a happy and healthy year ahead.
About a dozen office bearers of Akhila Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, who held placards denouncing the temple administration’s move, maintained that the new year celebration is an adoption of western culture and it should not be allowed to influence Indian way of life and disturb the presiding deities.
“Why do you disturb the God early in the morning for a celebration that suits the western civilisation. Rather it should be opened early in the morning on the occasion of Hindu New Year,” they said. Members of the Gobardhan Peetha also joined them in the protest.
The temple administration has decided to open the doors of the Temple early this year in keeping with the expectant surge of devotees. The devotees can pay their obeisance from 2 am onwards. The temple door will be opened at 1.30 AM.
Sources said SJTA has taken this decision after a discussion with ‘Chhatisa Nijoga’.
Temple ritual, Bhitara Sodha will be held at 3 am. Other rituals like, Mangala Alati, Rosha Homa, Mailama, and Tadapa Lagi etc will be held from 3.30 am to 4.30 am.
Likewise, Pahili Bhoga will be offered to the Lord between 6.30 am and 7 am on Tuesday morning and Madhyanna Dhupa will be offered between 11 am to 12.30 pm.
Mahaprasad will be available for the devotees at 11 am tomorrow to cater to the rush.
Security arrangements have also been tightened in view of rush. As many as 50 platoons of police force will be deployed and 500 police officers will be engaged for the safety of the devotees in Puri. This security arrangements have made from Sunday night to Wednesday morning.
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