Srimandir admin says no to online Mahaprasad sale

Puri: Taking cognizance of media reports on online sale of Mahaprasad (Abhada), the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Tuesday issued strict warning that anyone found selling the holy food in the name of Puri Mahaprasad shall be liable for stringent legal action.

The Chief Administrator of the 12th century shrine Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra informed that the temple administration had not allowed any private organisation or individual to sell the holy food through online platform.

“Cooking and selling of Mahaprasad are the responsibility of the Srimandir administration. We have urged the police to trace people who are selling Mahaprasad online and take action against them,” a press note released by the temple administration stated.

The announcement came following media reports that four to five private entities have been illegally selling Puri Mahaprasad through the internet.

The temple administration had earlier dismissed such rumours and requested devotees not to get carried away by such false advertisements after a video claiming to offer Mahaprasad online went viral on social media.

It is to be noted that earlier this month, the SJTA had carried out the entire cooking of Abadha on the Bhoga Mandap of the shrine to estimate the actual cost incurred in preparation.

It will finalise the rate chart of the Abhada after including the margin of profit and calculating the expenditure on raw materials and labour required for preparing it.