TV
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has allegedly issued a stern directive barring her ministers and MLAs from visiting Odisha’s Puri pilgrimage town during the world-famous Rath Yatra (9-day annual sojourn of the Holy Trinity) this year. This was claimed by Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the chief servitor (Badagrahi) of Lord Jagannath in Puri on Wednesday.
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Instead, they have been asked to visit Jagannath Temple in Digha, sparking sharp reactions from servitors in Odisha, Swain Mohapatra said.
According to sources, in a surprising move ahead of the iconic Rath Yatra in Puri, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has issued an internal ‘fatwa’ to her cabinet ministers and MLAs, instructing them not to visit Puri during the annual festival. Instead, she has directed them to travel to Digha, a coastal town in West Bengal.
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The directive has ignited controversy in Odisha, particularly among religious and cultural circles. Swain Mohapatra has condemned the decision. He stated that such moves could undermine the sanctity and cultural importance of Puri Rath Yatra.
The controversy has not only stirred religious emotions but has also raised political tensions between Odisha and West Bengal during one of the most important Hindu festivals in the country.
Swain Mohapatra further accused ISKCON of attempting to dilute Jagannath culture and demanded that ISKCON representatives be barred from entering the sacred town of Puri. He also urged Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb to issue a strong warning to protect the 12th-century Vaishnavite shrine’s traditions.
Raising additional concerns, Swain Mohapatra has questioned why the temple management committee has not been formed yet. He revealed that some ministers have recommended the names of three individuals for the committee. However, forming it now might disrupt the festival’s smooth execution, he warned.
“This is a conspiracy against the Odia people. There was no need to replicate ‘Puri Jagannath Dham’ in Digha (West Bengal). Lord Jagannath Himself resides here (in Puri). We all will keep opposing such an initiative,” Swain Mohapatra said to OTV.
“I got to hear yesterday that Mamata Banerjee has restricted West Bengal ministers from visiting Puri during Rath Yatra of the sibling deities,” Swain Mohapatra added.
