Ahead of Puri Shankaracharya taking a decision on allowing foreigners to climb chariot of lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra, the Daitapati Nijog, an association of the Srimandir servitors, on Thursday suggested the State Government make a special arrangement for foreigners to have darshan of the deity.
"We are of the opinion that foreign nationals, both male and female, should not be deprived of having darshan of lord Jagannath. The State Government should make special arrangement for foreigners instead of allowing them to come with local people," Daitapati Nijog president Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra said. Daitapati Nijog is an influential section of priests, which takes charge of the idols of trinity - lord Jagannath, lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra - from the time they are brought out of the shrine for Snana Purnima (bathing ceremony) till they are taken inside the temple after the Rath Yatra.
The issue relating to foreigners rights to climb the chariots came to discussion after Italy-born noted Odissi danseuse Ileana Citaristi, a Padma Shri awardee, was allegedly beaten up by priests of lord Jagannath on July 21. last year, a male tourist from the US was also allegedly beaten up by local police on lord Jagannath's chariot. The police objected to the American's attempt to climb the chariot. As the controversy continued, Sri Jagannath Temple Administration had left the decision on whether to allow foreign nationals to climb the chariots on the Shankaracharya.
Though a year has passed, Puri seer Swami Nischalananda Saraswati is yet to take a decision on the issue. "I am of the view that no foreigner should be allowed to climb the chariots from next year in order to avoid controversy," chief Badagrahi (chief servitor of lord Jagannath) Swain Mohapatra said. All devotees were allowed to have darshan of the lord on the chariots this year. "But the Ileana issue has been hyped much, which is unsavoury," he said. Acting on a complaint filed by Ileana, police had issued notices to Daitapati Niyog president Ramakrushna Das Mohapatra and chief priest (Badagrahi) Jagannath Swain Mohapatra.