Odisha temple servitors, administration clash over protocol ahead of President Droupadi Murmu's visit

A dispute has erupted between the temple servitors and the district administration ahead of President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Jajpur, following a decision to allow only a limited number of servitors inside Maa Biraja Temple during the worship.

With the President scheduled to visit Jajpur on Tuesday, the district administration has reportedly put in place tight security arrangements. As per the prescribed protocol, only a restricted number of servitors will be permitted inside Maa Biraja Temple during the performance of rituals.

However, the decision has triggered strong resentment among the servitors. They have expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that such restrictions were never imposed earlier. According to them, temple rituals and traditions grant all the servitors the right to participate in worship. They argue that excluding them from the temple premises during the worship is inappropriate and against the established customs.

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On the other hand, the Sub-Collector stated that all  the arrangements for the President’s visit are being made strictly in accordance with security norms and protocol. He clarified that the decision to engage only a limited number of servitors for the rituals has been taken in compliance with the regulations. Further discussions and deliberations on the matter are currently underway, the Sub-Collector added.

"We request the district administration to allow all servitors to be present on the Mukti Mandap. The administration appears to be playing a game with us, and the Collector has failed to take any concrete decision. If some servitors are not allowed to participate during the worship, then all servitors will opt out. We are bound to serve the deities, not the travellers. Let the administration decide its course of action," said Devi Prasad Pani, President of Mukti Mandap Deva Parishad.

"We will take decisions as per the protocol. We have decided to allow 30 servitors to be present on the Mukti Mandap. The servitors are demanding to allow more of them to be present on Mukti Mandap. The proposal is under consideration and a decision about it will be taken soon," said Jajpur Sub-Collector Tapas Dehury.