Delay in Puri Lord Jagannath’s rituals: Temple administration issues show cause notice to 3 servitors

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Thursday issued show-cause notices to three servitors following an alleged delay in the rituals of Lord Jagannath at the Jagannath Temple on March 28. The action was taken after reports of an unwarranted delay in the temple’s daily rituals (Niti), which also affected the distribution of Mahaprasad to devotees.

According to temple officials, the delay reportedly occurred during the Bhitarkatha Darshan schedule. It was alleged that there was an unnecessary delay in lifting the Bhogamandap offering, leading to disruptions in the sequence of rituals performed for the deities in Puri. As a result, many devotees who had gathered at the temple reportedly had to wait for a long time and were unable to receive Mahaprasad on time.

Inquiry Initiated

Following the incident, the temple administration initiated an inquiry to determine responsibility for the lapse.

Also Read: Uproar over dangerous stunts in Odisha’s Puri sea; video goes viral

Based on preliminary findings, show-cause notices were issued to servitors Ramakrishna Khuntia, Madhab Khuntia, and Madhusudan Khuntia, asking them to explain their roles in the incident. The servitors have been directed to submit their written explanations within seven days.

Disciplinary Action On Outcome

In addition, the administration has also issued a notice regarding the withdrawal of the Sareebandha order of one servitor, indicating possible disciplinary action depending on the outcome of the inquiry.

Confirming the development, Deputy Chief Administrator of SJTA and Puri District Collector Divyajyoti Parida stated that any irregularity or disruption in the rituals of Lord Jagannath will not be tolerated. He added that the servitors responsible for managing the rituals on the day had failed to discharge their duties properly, prompting the administration to seek clarification through formal notices.

“After the unexpected incident at the ‘Niti’, we have served a show-cause notice to a few sevayats as to why the ritual was delayed. They will have to give an answer as to why the ritual was delayed because Mahaprabhu’s rituals are of great significance for everyone of us. Such incidents should not ever happen again,” informed Puri Collector IAS Dibya Jyoti Parida.