Popular Puri BJD MP Pinaki Misra has pitched his camp at Puri to exercise caution over the goings-on for the grand Nabakalebar Rath Yatra on July 18. He bristles with robust optimism that the faith of the millions will remain ever resplendent in the cult and consciousness of lord Jagannath after a happy and a peaceful celebration of the ceremony despite the negative hype and hoopla generated in the media. He pooh-poohs the shenanigans of several political groups as rabblerousing full of sound and fury but signifying nothing. In an interview to The Pioneer, Misra spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on the various aspects of this unique event.
What is the Government agenda to internationalise Nabakalebar-2015IJ
It will be impossible in this short interview to detail the State Government’s elaborate plans to give national and international prominence to this unique event. Suffice to say that due to the State Government’s ample and sustained efforts and some little effort of the Central Government (for instance in starting international air service from July 10 to and from Bhubaneswar, which has been one of our longstanding demands) this event has already had global recognition. I have been receiving calls from friends in the Indian Diaspora in all parts of the world discussing the various rituals and elaborate preparations that go into this two decades’ event. lord Jagannath is today an international deity with extraordinarily wide recognition, and the manifold rituals of the lord cause great curiosity, devotion and excitement, both nationally and internationally among the Indian Diaspora as well as among foreigners.
Are the preparations moving well to accommodate 50 lakh peopleIJ
Absolutely! Puri will be ready for the large number of devotees. The exact number of expected devotees can never be predicted accurately, but the lord has always welcomed and protected His devotees, and this time will be no different. The State Government with its stretched and limited resources has spared no efforts to ready Puri for the event. It would have helped if the promised Central funds had been released in time, but despite the unavailability of the same Naveenbabu personally oversaw the infrastructure development and ensured that the State’s limited funds were always available, despite serious constraints.
Do you share the critical views about completion of various projects for facilitating the event which is knocking at the doorIJ
In India, no major event has had preparedness well in time! look at the Commonwealth Games of 2012; last-minute finishing touches were being given till the opening ceremony! Yet the games were a great success and went off flawlessly. That is the Indian system of working. Work will carry on till the last day and the event will pass off gloriously. Those who are critical are a motivated lot and are habitual armchair critics who would have done considerably worse if they were in charge the of affairs!
Will the SJTA (Shree Jagannath Temple Administration) be held responsible for making the Banajaga a great carnival show with rapid commercialisationIJ Haven’t the traditions of the temple been dilutedIJ
Some commercialisation has happened because of 24/7 television coverage; no power can stop that. If you try to control TV channels’ coverage “freedom of press” and “right to information” issues will be immediately cited. The SJTA is not really at fault. This event has happened after 1996 in the full glare of 24/7 TV coverage, which has resulted in making it a bit of a carnival. But I see no harm because the lord always intended the Rath Yatra to be some sort of a carnival to be enjoyed by all His devotees; that is the nature of the festival inherently, and I don’t believe any hallowed traditions have been diluted in the process. It has over the centuries been in the nature of a happy carnival; only now it is publicised more prominently and has gained great commercial value due to live TV coverage.
Who’s guilty in the Brahma transfer episodeIJ Are they going to be brought to justiceIJ
The three relevant Badagrahis have already held a detailed Press conference and explained that only delay has happened in the Brahma transfer; there has been no deviation in the ritualistic process at all. Their version should be the last word on this issue. You and I have no ideas what transpires once the temple doors are closed for the secret rituals, nor do we have any power to interfere in anything that happens, or should happen, inside. Due to the elaborate Riti-Niti of the lord delays have routinely happened over the past several decades. It’s just that it is now publicised much more prominently due to live TV coverage. In any case, reasons for the delay are being inquired into seriously by the SJTA and we should not try to prejudge what is a religious and
legal issue flowing from the Temple Act, the Rath Yatra Code and the sacred Record of Rights that have governed these practices down the ages.
The SJTA has been in controversy for many years for interfering in the religious rights of the Shankaracharya. How far is it correctIJ
We all hold the Hon’ble Shankaracharya in high esteem and there is no scope or occasion for anybody to interfere in his religious functioning. I believe even this year the SJTA has humbly requested the Hon’ble Shankaracharya to participate in the Nabakalebar festival and he has graciously consented to do so.
It is also alleged that the SJTA is trying to minimise the influence of the Gajapati Maharaja. Do you agreeIJ
I disagree with this observation. Vested interests like some Congress and BJP leader and elements like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal are continuously attempting to vitiate the atmosphere by creating artificial rift stories between the concerned parties. Each has a designated role and function under the Temple Act, Record of Rights and the Rath Yatra Code and has diligently fulfilled their functions over several centuries. This kind of vicious gossip and conspiracy theories do not serve the majesty and dignity of the Mahaprabhu and his millions of devotees.
Have the Minister of law and the SJTA taken any worthwhile measures to pacify the internecine quarrels among the Daitas and other servitorsIJ
The law Minister has a limited role in this entire process. lately, the Courts have started actively stepping in, which has created a new dimension. last year for instance, the Hon’ble High Court banned the age-old practice of devotees climbing onto the chariots for a close darshan of the Gods which created enormous resentment among the Sevayat community because it impacted their earnings. The court order had to be strictly abided by.
Yes, people are unhappy with the behaviour of a small section of Sevayats and Daitapatis. The overwhelming large number of them have always served the lord and devotees sincerely. A microscopic minority have by their shenanigans over the years given the entire community a dodgy name. But I think they are beginning to realise the extent of public disenchantment now and have promised a smooth and successful Rath Yatra this year, along with profound and sincere apologies for any inconvenience or resentment caused to the devotees thus far.
What’s your reaction to Congress leaders’ claim that the total bandh reflects the present mood of the people of the State against the BJD regimeIJ
The Congress has made a serious mistake yet again in gauging the people’s mood. But then, this is hardly the first time that would have happened. The people are very angry with the senseless violence and goondaism and looting that happened at the hands of Congress goonda elements in the name of bandh. Social media is full of remarks that “now we know why the Congress has been out of people’s favour and out of office for 15 years”. Naveen Patnaik continues to enjoy the love and trust of the people and the Congress or any other political outfit doesn’t have a leader in sight for the next decade to match his integrity, sincerity and acceptability amongst people. The reaction of Congress leaders is a typical stereotype, and the result this time will be no different than what has been happening since 2000.
This chain of ugly episodes has shocked the consciousness of every Odia. What remedial measures can be takenIJ
A smooth and successful Rath Yatra will paper over all the misgivings, if any at all, of certain section of people who may have been swayed by the incessant media coverage, dictated by a TRP race between various news channels. Unfortunately, some news channels believe that projecting negative and slanted news about the entire Nabakalebar preparations will give them increased TRPs, but I believe eventually the truth will prevail. All is well in the lord’s abode; all the rituals have and are being processed as per custom and tradition, and the State Government’s painstaking initiatives to provide the requisite infrastructure will lead to a happy and successful Rath Yatra.
