Security Of Puri Jagannath Temple Breached Again, Video Of Sanctum Sanctorum Goes Viral

Puri: A viral video reportedly of sanctum sanctorum in Jagannath temple of Odisha’s Puri has again raised serious concern about the security of the 12th century shrine.

The video went viral after it was uploaded in social media platform Instagram by Banke Bihari Anant, who claims himself to be a devotee, on his page. The video was purportedly shot by Anant in his mobile phone inside the temple.

The post shows Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra sitting on Ratna Singhasan in the ‘Garva Griha’ (sanctum sanctorum). Anant seems to be going around the temple shooting different places including Kirtan Chapada and Lord Patitapaban.

He has also taken his photograph on the same video standing at Garuda Stambha in front of the Sighadwar (Lions Gate) of the temple.

Speaking to the media on the video, Puri SP Vineet Agrawal said immediately after the matter came to light, a case was filed at Singhadwar police station. “We have started legal action who has shot the video. Different teams have been engaged to identify the person. We are also checking CCTV footage in this regard. If anybody else was involved in the incident, we will initiate action against him also,” he said.

It may be noted that one Gaurav Kumar Sahu had shot a video showing Kirtan Chapada inside the temple and posted it on his social media handle on January 12. The video came to light after it went viral.

On January 5, a drone was spotted flying over the temple by the locals. The drone reportedly stooped over Meghanada Pacheri (compound wall) and made a video-shooting. It also shot Dadhinauti and Nilachakra.

Similarly, videos shot inside the temple in 2022 and 2017 had gone viral raising concerns over the security system of the temple.