The temple of Maa Sarala in Jagatsinghpur district is likely to have a set of rules soon.
Once implemented, no devotee would be allowed to take polythene bags or mobile phones inside the shrine. Similarly, Panda servitors without sacred thread (Janeyu) and unmarried 'Raul' servitors will not be allowed into the sanctum sanctorum.
Moreover, clicking photographs inside the shrine will also be restricted. If any servitor misbehaves with devotees or management committee members, action will be initiated against them.
No servitor can even annoy any devotee by asking unnecessary questions. If any complaint is received against any servitor, action as per the rule will be taken.
As per the new rules, the servitors can’t ask for ‘dakshina’ (money given to priests) from devotees.
In a recently held meeting, the temple management committee formulated 18 rules. According to the executive officer of the temple, Sourya Ranjan Parija, the rules will be imposed only after getting the nod of the district Collector, who is the trustee of the temple.
“The rules are for the betterment of the shrine. As every institution should have a set of own rules, Sarala temple has also some rules. Once implemented, devotees would be debarred from taking mobile phones, polythene bags and materials made of thermocol into the shrine,” said chief priest, Ranjan Panda.
When contacted, executive officer of the tample management committee, Sourya Ranjan Parija, said, “We discussed the rules to be implemented at the shrine. Then it will be discussed at the general body meeting. Thereafter, the trustee of the temple will approve them. Then only the rules will be implemented.”