Servitors Unhappy As Water Leaks Again In Srimandir Outer Ratna Bhandar

Puri: A section of servitors at the Shree Jagannath Temple here on Sunday expressed unhappiness alleging that a wall of the outer chamber of the Lords' treasure house (Bahara Ratna Bhandar) is once again leaking water sans repair.

Raising serious concern regarding the safety of the chamber, sevayat Narayan Mekap said, "We have already made several complaints with the temple administration to repair the Ratna Bhandar. However, the onus lies on the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) which has to take a decision on this."

The concerned authorities have not commented in connection with the matter so far.

Meanwhile, in another development, the Mekap servitors present in the review meeting at the SJTA office on Sunday to discuss the issue of the delay in Lord Jagannath's Rajarajeshwari Besha a few days ago, alleged that the dispute between the two groups erupted as there were more Singhari servitors than the allowed number during the hand-over rituals of golden ornaments atop the Ratna Sighasana (jewel throne).

This was the second such review meeting after the row between two servitors groups that saw delay in Lord Jagannath's Suna Besha rituals and the subsequent delay in preparation of Mahaprasad on Pausha Purnima, 28 January 2021.

Earlier, in the first review meeting held on Saturday, the sect of Puspalaka servitors attributed the hold-up to administrative negligence and said the incident occurred during the Nagarjuna Besha too.

The servitors have issued an ultimatum that they would be forced to use flowers and thermocol instead of the golden ornaments for the special attire rituals in the upcoming Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath on the occasion of Dola Purnima.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)