Bhubaneswar: Renowned sand artist and Member of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee Sudarshan Pattnaik has sought intervention of Committee Chairman and Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb in the opening of Ratna Bhandar of the temple.
Writing a letter to the King, Shri Pattnaik said the Managing committee should request the Government to open the Ratna Bhandar as ASI has given a requisition on August 8, 2022 for inspection of inner Ratna Bhandar.
Why this matter is not brought to the notice of the Managing Committee through the agenda for discussion, as it is a matter of safety and security also it is a matter of concern among the devotees of Mahaprabhu, he asked the King.
The sand artist also urged Puri King to intervene for reopening of the other three gates of the Temple, which remained closed since Covid-19 pandemic.
“We all are aware that there is a huge discontentment among the devotees, in particular, the locals related to the closing of three doors. During the Covid-19 pandemic, three doors were closed for the devotees, but why all the same has not been opened for the devotees?” he asked in his letter.
He also asked the Puri King to inform the devotees about the reasons for not opening the three gates. If there is any reason to not open other doors, we should inform devotees in a proper manner, he said.
He demanded that at least one door should be opened immediately for the local people.
Shri Pattnaik also urged Gajapati Maharaja to take the necessary steps to resolve these issues.
This letter of the Managing Committee Member to the King added fuel to the burning issue over reopening of the Ratna Bhandar of the Jagannath Temple. Even the Puri King himself had demanded reopening of the Ratna Bhandar and inventory of the valuable deities before different media on several occasions.
While BJP has filed a case in Orissa High Court on this issue, the State Government has just remained in ‘wait and watch’ mode.