Servitors appeal Puri Gajapati to be part of Ratna Bhandar inspection team

Puri: With Puri Srimandir administration all set to open the Ratna Bhandar of Lord Jagannath on Wednesday, servitors today appealed Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb to be a part of the authorised team during inspection of the treasure trove instead of sending his representative.

In a press statement, Shree Jagannath Sebayat Sammilani urged the Gajapati to be present along with nine other members  during the inspection.

Gajapati is the permanent chairman of the temple management committee and also the 'first servitor' of the three deities. Hence he must be present during the inspection or else it would be violation of age-long tradition, insisted the servitors .

Questioning the real motive behind omission of Gajapati's name from the list of authorised persons for inspection, Kashinath Khuntia, the general secretary of Jagannath Sebayat Sammilani said "During the initial meeting between temple administration, Chhatisa Nijog and the government, it was decided that the Gajapati should also accompany the team. If Gajapati was reluctant then we should have been told on the meeting itself but later we came to know that he will be sending his representative during the inspection. We think that there is something fishy," Khuntia said.

It is to be noted that the Ratna Bhandar will be opened for inspection tomorrow after rituals of the second Bhoga Mandap are over. The procedures mentioned in the Satwalipi (record of rights) will be followed strictly during the process. The darshan of Gods inside the shrine will be restricted during the period.