The priests of the Samaleswari Temple here have demanded financial assistance from the Government to support their families. Though the temple has been shut down, but all the traditional pujas are going on as usual by the priests.
“We, like before, have been performing the daily rituals of the deity with same devotion and sincerity,” said chief priest (Mukhya Pujak) of the temple Ambika Prasad Ray. He further said that there are 12 priests in the temple who are performing the daily rituals of the deity on rotation basis.
“Usually, the money offered by the devotees during puja is the only source of income for the priests here. However, the priests here have been facing a tough time as the temple has been closed since more than a month. The families of the priests are finding it difficult to meet both ends,” Ray said with a heavy heart.
He further said, the Government should provide financial assistance to the priests of the temple, taking into its account their untold sufferings.
Noyably, The Samaleswari temple is a 16th century shrine. During normal days, the temple attracts thousands of devotees from across the State besides from the neighbouring Chhattisgarh, AP, MP, Jharkhand, WB and other parts of the country. But it is almost empty now due to the lockdown.
Ray prayed to the Mother to end the crisis soon.
