Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found itself in a soup following a public outcry over it post on social media, celebrating the completion of the 95-day restoration work at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri.
Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has sought an explanation from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) after sensitive photographs of the interior layout of the Puri shrine premises were posted on its social media, triggering widespread public outcry.
The images posted on ASI’s official ‘X’ handle on Monday, showcasing the restored Ratna Bhandar, Bhog Mandap entrance, Satpahacha steps, and Ghanti Dwara, clearly displayed the interior layout of the 12th-century shrine, where use of mobile phones and cameras is strictly prohibited to maintain its security and sanctity.
Chief Administrator of SJTA Arabinda Kumar Padhee has written to the ASI, urging appropriate action and stricter protocols in the future.
In a letter to the ASI Director General, Padhee stressed that preserving the sanctity and spiritual integrity of the Shree Jagannath Temple is of utmost importance—not just for the lakhs of devotees, but also for the temple administration and the state government. He advised the ASI to exercise heightened caution when sharing visual content related to the shrine, especially from restricted areas.
Notably, these photographs, taken inside the temple’s highly restricted zones, were uploaded on official ASI channels as part of a celebratory post marking the completion of a 95-day structural restoration project.
Even servitors are barred from carrying phones into the sanctum. The release of such imagery without proper protocol has now raised serious questions about procedural lapses by the agency tasked with preserving the monument’s heritage.
Though ASI deleted the images following widespread outcry, screenshots had already gone viral, sparking sharp criticism from devotees, temple servitors, and cultural watchdogs. The act was described as a breach of religious trust and temple sanctity.
