Notices have been issued by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to four Badagrahi Daitapatis authorised by the administration to perform Brahma Parivartan ritual of the deities to explain the cause of delay. An earlier notice to the president and secretary of the Daitapati Nijog to account for the delay remained unanswered.
The Brahma Parivartan as per Nabakalebar manual was to be performed on Monday midnight, but was done the next day on June 16 afternoon, flouting established norms for the important ritual. This shocked devotees, who blamed the Daitapatis and the temple administration and demanded a thorough probe into it, besides stringent actions against the persons found guilty.
The temple too issued notices to ten Biswakarmas engaged in the carving of the images of the four deities in the Koilibaikuntha to explain the delay. Earlier, Bijay Mahapatra and Krushna Maharana, both senior Biswakarmas, during shaping of idols had informed the temple administration of frequent interference by a number of Daitas stalling the work for nearly three hours. The administration did not take any action to facilitate smooth running of the work, they had stated. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Haladhar Das Mahapatra, the Badagrahi of Balabhadra, had filed a written statement as to the cause of the delay and identified persons responsible for delay.
Earlier, Haladhar who is heading Banajaga team alleged that two Daitas belonging to the ruling party had misbehaved with him and other Badagrahi Daitapatis when their attempt to enter into the Brahma Parivartan Gruha was denied. They roughed up Haladhar and others. This led to a delay of over four hours, Haladhar reported this to the temple administration in his written statement.
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Dev, chairperson of the temple managing body, told a television channel that he too is in shock and condemned this act of Daitas. He said this reflects to what extent the situation in the temple affairs have deteriorated and the servitors did not even spare lord Jagannath in his prime service (Brahma Parivartan). He decried promoting political vote bank in the temple by the political parties. The Gajapati said lord Jagannath is for all devotees and all political parties and the service to the lord should not be done under political consideration. Rather, everybody should render service for the lord in a unified manner.
Nabakalebar infrastructure development panel chairman and Puri MlA Maheswar Mohanty said though the rituals did not come under his purview, he is shocked over the incident and said the investigation initiated by the temple administration would identify the persons and suitable actions would be taken against the rule violators, Mohanty said.
Union Petroleum Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan said State Government can't escape from its duty by just saying that Brahma Parivartan was a secret affair and it had no role to play in it. "Smooth conduct of Nabakalebar ritual is the duty of the State Government. It is responsible for breach in the tradition of ritual," said Pradhan. Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan held State Government responsible for breach in tradition of lord Jagannath.