Hailing the Odisha High Court’s verdict in upholding Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati’s view on the issue of devotees climbing the chariots and touching the deities during the Rath Yatra, the Jagannath Sanskruti Suraksha Manch (JSSM), a city-based cultural outfit, on Saturday demanded execution of the Shankaracharya’s view in the ensuing Rath Yatra without any hesitation.
Staging a demonstration in front of the Assembly, Mancha members appealed to the Government to extend all possible supports to the temple administration to carry out the Shankaracharya’s opinion.
“The Government has already breached the customary and traditional sanctity by overlooking the advice of the Shankaracharya. So, following the High Court’s verdict the Government should ensure proper implementation of the Shankaracharya’s view with effect from the ensuing car festival instead of allowing a ‘certain section of people’ to make the issue more controversial,” said JSSM convenor and noted researcher of Jagannath culture Dr Prafulla Kumar Rath.
The Mancha submitted a memorandum to the Governor to this effect.