In a move that is certain to embarrass the State Government, Cooperation and Excise Minister Damodar Rout on Thursday came out openly in support of the Jagadguru Shankaracharya’s view that devotees should not climb the chariots or touch the deities during the Rath Yatra.
“Every religion has its spiritual head, whose opinion on religious matters is binding on everybody belonging to that religion, and Hinduism is no different. While it is the duty of the State Government to ensure smooth conduct of the affairs of the temple, including the Rath Yatra, the opinions of the Shankaracharya and the Gajapati Maharaja are final in matters relating to temple rituals,” Rout said.
Clarifying that it was his ‘personal opinion’, the Minister said some people have made it a ‘business’ in the name of tradition and are opposing the restrictions suggested by the Shankaracharya because they stand to lose out on their earnings.
It may be noted that after a meeting with Daitapatis, who are up in arms over the Shankaracharya’s suggestion for barring devotees from mounting the chariots, the Government had said devotees would be allowed to climb the Raths except on three days, Rath Yatra, Bahuda and Suna Besha.
Shortly later, the leader of the Daitapati Nijog had repudiated law Minister Arun Sahoo’s statement, saying even on these three days, there would be no bar on devotees climbing the chariots after sunset.