No more stale ‘Abadha’ in Puri Srimandir from September 1!

Devotees visiting the Puri Srimandir no longer have to put up with stale ‘abadha’ (mahaprasad) at Ananda Bazar. 

If everything goes well, such age-old practice in Srimandir will end shortly. The temple administration is going to deploy 20 retired Army personnel who will not only ensure the sale of fresh Mahaprasad but also no devotee should be treated badly. 

As per the Srimandir OSD, Ajay Kumar Jena, the process for recruitment has started. The posts will be filled up through an outsourcing organisation named PSIPL by August 30. From September 1, they will be found keeping a hawk-eye on the unscrupulous servitors selling stale ‘Abadha’ and misbehaving with devotees. They will be seen in a specific uniform. They will also check pickpocketing, misbehaviour by servitors and sale of any food items procured from outside the temple. 

If any unlicensed servitor is found selling ‘Abadha’ or selling any food item procured from outside like ‘khaja’, ‘khira’, ‘rabidi’ etc., they will be punished. 

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“As the Ananda Bazar is open round the clock, there will be 20 highly qualified retired Army personnel. They will be given sufficient training. The temple’s supervisor and assistant supervisor will also help them,” said Jena. 

If the system prevailing at Ananda Bazar is streamlined, only the ‘supakars’ identified by Suar Mahasuar Nijog will sell ‘Mahaprasad’. If required, the SJTA will give Identity Cards to them.

The devotees and servitors are happy with the ongoing development. 

“Cases of gold chain snatching and pickpocketing are being reported from time to time. We will keep a watch on these things,” said Chittaranjan, an ex-military staff. 

“Over the past few days, it has been seen that food items like ‘khaja’, ‘khira’ ‘rabidi’ etc. are entering Srimandir through the four gates. Believing them to be Prasad, devotees are buying them. This should be stopped,” said Narayan Mahasuar, Secretary of the Suar Mahasuar Nijog.