While regretting for the Brahma Parivartan mess on June 15 and 16, the Badagrahi Daitapatis claimed that the Brahma Padarthas (materials) were safe and secure and were transferred from the old idols to the new ones following a complex and elaborate set of rituals.
"Brahmas of deities are safe. They were transferred from the old idols to the new after observance of secret rituals as per the tradition," said the Badagrahi Daitapatis entrusted to perform the Brahma transfer in a hurriedly organised press meet here on Thursday.
After observing that the administration is likely to take stringent actions against more Daitapatis, the Badagrahis came out to support their clan members. They sought to neutralise growing hatred towards the Daita community after the June 15 shenanigans.
Haladhar Das Mahapatra, Jagannath Swain Mahapatra and Ramchandra Das Mahapatra, the Badaghrahi Daitapatis of lord Balabhadra, lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra respectively expressed regret over the delay.
Admitting the cause of delay because of faction fight among the Daitas, they pointed out further delay was caused by the Biswakarmas for completing their work. Carving of images of deities on Darus could not be accomplished in the scheduled time and there was delay in observance of regular nitees which were running behind schedule for hours. The key to the temple door was handed over to them at 4.30 am on the Tuesday. The ritual was completed by delay of over 12 hours, they admitted.
Jagannath Swain Mahapata said, "We never expected that devotees, particularly the residents of Puri, would react so intensely blaming the servitors. The anguish of devotees across the State is visible." He, however, decried the attempt to politicise the entire Brahma Parivartan issue.
The Badagrahi Daitapatis said they would try to conduct the Rath Yatra smoothly to salvage their respect. Over the suspension of two Daitapatis by the temple administration, they said since Daitapatis belong to one community and perform their religious services in collective form, all the issues would be solved amicably within the community. "We would rally behind our brothers," said Jagannath Swain Mahapatra who revealed that he does not have good relation with the temple chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mahapatra for many years.
The Badagrahis admitted that some Daitapatis took mobile phones into the temple but they did not take them to the Brahma Paribartan room. It seems that the Daitapatis and the temple administration are heading for a fresh tussle and more disturbance is expected as the Daitapatis said they would support the suspended Daitapatis.