The State Government is yet to take a decision to ban devotees’ climbing on the chariot and touching lord Jagannath’s idol during the Rath Yatra as suggested by the Shree Jagannath Temple management on May 11.
“We will implement the decision of the Government on the issue. However, we want cooperation and support of all stakeholders,” Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said on Wednesday. Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati, Puri’s Gajapati King Divyasingha Deb, Mukti Mandap Pundit Sabha (the highest decision-making body of the temple) and pundits of different sects and mutts have already suggested a ban on the climbing on the chariots and touching the lord during the annual Car Festival.
“We have already informed the State Government about the decision of the (temple) managing committee. It is up to the Government to take a decision and implement the order of the Shankaracharya,” Puri Gajapati King Dibyasingh Deb said.Deb, who heads the managing committee, said climbing the chariots and touching the deities is ‘sin’ as per the Hindu scriptures. However, sources in the State Government revealed, “The Government is unlikely to follow the dictum of the Shankaracharya in this regard.”