Earlier, the Daitapati priests
were opposed to the idea of putting any restriction on devotees climbing the
chariots of Lord Jagannath.
In a significant decision, the
Odisha government on Wednesday said devotees would not be allowed to climb the
chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra on Rath Yatra
day. “The devotees will not be allowed
to climb the chariots. The Daitapati priests of the 12th century shrine have
agreed to the proposal of the State government,” Law Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo
told reporters after a three–hour discussion with the priests here at the
Secretariat.
“The Daitapatis have agreed to
the proposal to bar devotees from mounting the chariots, not just on Rath Yatra
day, but also on Bahuda Yatra [festival during the chariots’ return journey]
and Suna Besha [golden attire],” the Minister said.
On the controversial issue of
devotees touching the deities on chariots, the Minister said: “It is a highly
sensitive issue and needs wider consultation with all stakeholders.”
“We have accepted the State
government’s proposal of not allowing the devotees to climb chariots on three
days — Rath Yatra day, Bahuda and Suna Vesha from the security point of view.
But the practice of devotees mounting chariots after they reach the destination
will continue,” said Ramakrushna Mohapatra, the leader of the Daitapati Nijog.
He said they accepted the State
government proposal in view of the suspected terrorist threat to the Lord’s
festival.
The Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami
Nischalananda Saraswati, had earlier recommended to the Sri Jagannath Temple
Managing Committee, headed by Puri King Gajapati Divyasingha Deb, to ban
devotees from climbing the chariots and touching the deities.
“Climbing chariots and touching the
deities was against the Hindu religion. It is a sin,” the Shankaracharya had
said. The Hindu
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