SJTA serves show-cause notice to Pratihari servitor over delay in ‘Dwara Phita’ ritual in Puri Srimandir

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has served a notice to Pratihari sevayat over an alleged delay in the conduct of the ‘Dwara Phita’ ( door opening) ritual at Puri Srimandir.

The notice has been issued to Bada Dwara Pratihari sevayat Shivshankar Mohapatra. As per reports, there was a delay of nearly 35 minutes in the door-opening ritual on Friday. This allegedly led to the delay in the conduct of other rituals at the temple.

In its notice, SJTA has asked the sevayat to respond to the show-cause notice within seven days. Similarly, appropriate action would be taken if the concerned sevayat doesn’t reply to the SJTA notice as per the Shree Jagannath Temple Act.

Welcoming such action by SJTA, Madhav Mohapatra, a member of the Managing Committee said, “The act of SJTA chief administrator is certainly welcoming. I urge the officials to take similar action in case of any kind of deviation in the conduct of the rituals.”

Mohapatra said that each servitor, who is associated with the rituals, should be made accountable and discharge their duties properly. Such show-cause notice will certainly have an impact and pave the way for streamlining rituals at Puri Srimandir.