The issue of the devotees touching the deities on the chariots during the Rath Yatra has led to a confrontation between the Daita servitor community and the Shree Jagannath Temple administration.
The Daita servitors, known as body protectors of lord Jagannath who conduct the Rath Yatra, at a Press meet here on Wednesday, flayed the temple managing body’s resolution prohibiting devotees to climb up the Raths and touching the lords.
Three leaders of the Daita community Ramakrushna Dasmahapatra, Jagannath Swainmahapatra and Premananda Dasmahaptra demanded scrapping of the resolution before June 23, the day of the Ssnan Yatra of the deities, or else the Daitas would not cooperate with the administration during the festival.
They said touching and embracing of deities by devotees atop the chariots during the Rath Yatra is an ancient tradition. The temple administration has no power to debar devotees from this rare privilege, which is the essence of this festival. The temple body without consulting them has passed an “anti-devotee” resolution. It is a conspiracy by some vested interests to defame the Government by encouraging disruption of the normal schedule of this grand festival.
Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said the resolution was passed after scholars opined against the touching of the deities by the devotees as it is against the religious tenets. If there is any issue with the Daitas, that can be sorted out by holding dialogue.