Following release of the Jagannath corridor blueprint by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Shreemandir servitors have started lodging protests.
Looking at the blueprint of parking of three decorated chariots near the temple administration office, servitors have questioned the move of the administration. Upping their ante against shifting of three chariots from Lions’ Gate in Shree Gundicha, the servitors have termed the blueprint as breach of an age-old tradition.
Reportedly in Jagannath corridor blueprint, three chariots are found parked not at Lions Gate but near the Jagannath Temple office. It is said that the chariots from the upcoming Rath Yatra would park near the temple administration office instead of at the Lions Gate and start their journey to the Gundicha Temple.
If it happens then the holy deities would have to move to temple office instead of Lions Gate.
“If the chariots are kept near the temple office instead of Lions Gate, the deities would have to move to more distance. This might harm the body of deities as they have to move more distance sustaining to severe jerk,” said servitor Durgadas Mohapatra.
Raising concern over the shift of parking place, Mohapatra said any shift of chariots would be treated as breach of tradition.
However, the temple administration has diverted the issue saying that it was merely a picture during construction.
Reportedly, in the 75-meter heritage zone, the administration has built permanent steel structure for pilgrims’ pathway. Besides, there are many new structures in place which would be used as rest shed for pilgrims, shoe and mobile stands where no space are available for chariots’ parking during the Gundicha Yatra.