The row over devotees climbing chariots and touching the deities during the Rath Yatra at Puri finally ended on Friday night as the Daitapati Nijog unanimously agreed to respect the verdict of the Odisha HC, which has asked the Government to abide by the decisions of the temple management committee and its advisor on religious matters, the Jagadguru Shankaracharya. “We had been facilitating the darshan of the lords atop the chariots for the devotees for generations as per traditions. We were not aware of the existing rules and laws. Now that the High Court has directed us to abide by the order of the Shankaracharya, we would respect the verdict of the court in letter and spirit,” Daitapati Nijog secretary Premananda Dasmohapatra told reporters here. “We respect the suggestions and advice of the Shankarcharya and the Gajapati Maharaja and promise to do our best to ensure smooth conduct of the Nabakalebar festival next year too,” he added. Dasmohapatra, however, hoped the Gajapati Maharaja and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) would give special focus on the loss to be incurred by the Daitapati servitors by making specific arrangements for adequate compensation to them.