Showcause To Puri Jagannath Temple Servitors For Clash Over ‘Paduka’

Puri: Two servitors of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town have been issued show-cause notice for allegedly hurling abuses and indulging in physical altercation over distribution of ‘Avakash Paduka’.

The servitors – Mukha Pakhal Sevak Madan Mohan Khuntia and Bishwanath Khuntia – were injured in the incident.

The incident took place on December 16 over distribution of ‘paduka’ to devotees by servitors near the Beherana Dwara of the 12th-century shrine. The heated exchange took an ugly turn when they started attacking one another. Khuntia suffered bleeding injuries on his nose.

“This incident caused discontent among devotees present raising concerns about discipline on temple premises. The incident also harmed the temple’s reputation and dignity,” Chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Arabinda Padhee said in the notice.

They were asked to provide a satisfactory explanation through the temple commander within 7 days as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

This was the second such incident in the last three months.

In October, temple supervisor Buxi Ramachandra Pratihari was attacked with a sharp weapon near the Paschima Dwara of the shrine when he stopped an unauthorised person from selling ‘rabdi’ and ‘kheer’ at Ananda Bazaar. Subsequently, Pantibadu sevayat Chandan Samantara was barred from entering the temple and carrying out any of the shrine duties.