Amid the mounting pressure from various quarters and even being physically abused by protestors for making derogatory remarks on lord Jagannath, standup comedian Tatwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pompom late on Thursday night prostrated in front of the Singhadwar (lion’s Gate) of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and sought forgiveness of the lord.
He promised through the media that in future he would not make any such satirical comments on lord Jagannath.
Paup Pompom arrived at the lion’s Gate at around 1 am and prostrated before the lion’s Gate holding his ears and left the place after about 15 minutes.
On Wednesday, the popular comic actor, who is now out on bail in connection with a case of sexually harassing a minor girl, was physically abused and had his face smeared with black ink by a group of youths here on Wednesday near Jharpada along the Cuttcak Road.
On November 28, while performing standup comedy on stage at the closing ceremony of the Puri Beach Festival, Papu had said that Tulsi leaves over which street dogs pee everyday are used in the rituals of lord Jagannath. He further went on to say that those who utter ‘Jai Jagannath’ are Papis (sinners).
Since then, activists of the lulu Sena, the Jagannath Sena and other forums have been demanding that the actor visit Puri and prostrate in front of the lion’s Gate and seek forgiveness.
On Thursday, activists of the Hindu Sena had staged protest in front of Papu’s residence at Baramunda in Bhubaneswar and hurled tomatoes at his house.