Puri: Attributing it as a punishable offence, the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) today clarified that no one will be permitted to touch the deities during the Snana Yatra ritual of the holy trinity.
While citing that everyone can have darshan of the deities, the SJTA chief administrator Pradeep Jena said no one will be allowed to touch the deities.
“As per discussions with the servitors, their family members will be allowed during the ‘Sahanamela’ only to have darshan and they cannot touch the deities. This was a practice which has been there since 2014 and will remain in force,” said Pradeep.
As per sources, the family members of the servitors will only be allowed during the last half an hour of the scheduled darshan time and not be allowed to touch the deities.
Moreover, the SJTA has made arrangements to put up posters and banners warning everyone from touching the deities during the ritual.