Puri Rath Yatra 2024: Devotees miss out on Mahaprasad due to delay in rituals at Adapa Mandap

A day after inordinate delay was witnessed in the completion of the rituals of the Holy Trinity at the Adapa Mandap in Gundicha temple in Puri caused inconvenience to the devotees, there was allegedly no improvement in the situation on Saturday as well.

Though Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasad is the most sought-after food by the devotees in Puri, it is reportedly not reaching their platter due to the delay in the rituals at Adapa Mandap in Gundicha Temple.

Due to delay in rituals like ‘Mangala Alati and ‘Gopala Ballabha’, Mahaprasad is not likely to be available for the devotees on time today like the situation witnessed on Friday.

 Moreover, a large number of devotees are waiting in long queues to have ‘Adapa Darshan’ of the deities at the Gundicha temple.

“We have been waiting in the long queue since morning to have the darshan of deities. We have no option but to wait for our turn amid the humid conditions due to the delay in the completion of the rituals,” rued a devotee.

As per reports, a huge quantity of Mahaprasad could not be made available for the devotees on time due to the inordinate delay in the completion of the rituals on Friday.

As per sources, the ‘Sakala Dhupa’ ritual of the sibling deities got delayed and was completed at around 12.45 pm. Subsequently, the first ‘Bhoga Mandapa’ was completed at around 3pm. As a result, Mahaprasad could only be made available at 4 pm yesterday.

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Similarly, ‘Madhyana Dhupa’ also got delayed and the ritual was completed at 8.40 pm. Subsequently, the second ‘Bhoga Mandapa’ was completed after 10 pm. Under the circumstances, a huge amount of Mahaprasad could not be sold.

In response, the Suara servitors and several devotees expressed their resentment over the development. It has been alleged that Mahaprasad could not be made available to the devotees on time due to delay in the conduct of ‘Ratrapahuda’ and ‘Dwaraphita Niti’.

“Various rituals are not being conducted as per the fixed schedule. Hence, devotees are missing out Mahaprasad. There has been so much delay particularly in ‘Madhyana Dhupa’ and second ‘Bhoga Mandap’ rituals and as a result Mahaprasad could only be available after 11pm and goes unsold,” rued Suara Mahasuara Nijoga president Narayan Mahasuara.

“Some servitors are delaying the rituals and as a result, Suara servitors and devotees are getting punishment,” he added.

“The administrators who have fixed the schedule are fully responsible for the delay,” said senior servitor Damodara Mahasuara.

In response, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said, “A huge rush of devotees is being witnessed at Gundicha temple and we are balancing between the rush of devotees and the rituals. We assure you that all the rituals will be completed as per schedule.”

Amid such reports, Odisha CM Mohan Majhi on Saturday directed Deputy CM Pravati Parida, Law Minister and Culture Minister to remain in Puri from Sunday till Niladri Bije to ensure smooth conduct of rituals of Rath Yatra.