Devotees, Puri Srimandir servitors fume as water from ‘Peja Nala’ floods Singhadwara

Resentment brewed among devotees and servitors after water from ‘Peja Nala’ flooded ‘Singhadwara’ or Lions Gate of Puri Srimandir. Following rainfall, ‘peja’ released through the drain overflowed, flooding the Singhadwara, reports said.

Servitors and devotees are forced to step on the dirty water to go to the temple to seek the blessings of the Holy Trinity. Besides, the water is emanating a severe stench, giving a nightmarish experience to devotees and tourists. Moreover, the stink has polluted the air inside the temple premises.

“The administration must pull up their socks and clean it as soon as possible. Devotees are forced to walk barefoot on the stinking drain water. Such thing in Puri, that too on the premises of Srimandir is not good,” said a devotee.

Speaking to OTV, a servitor said, “I came to the temple in the morning and saw the drain overflowing after rainfall. The water has entered the premises of the temple. Even though crores of rupees were spent in the development of the infrastructure here, the same irregularities continue.”

“If the drain is overflowing and dirty water is entering the Srimandir premises with such little rainfall, imagine what will happen if there is heavy rainfall. There will be a flood on Bada Danda,” he added.

“Sevayats and devotees are entering the temple by stepping on the drain water. This is so inauspicious,” he further added.

Meanwhile, the civic body authorities have pulled their socks up to clean the ‘peja pani’ immediately and put an end to the suffering of the devotees and servitors.