Bhubaneswar: Congress Veteran Niranjan Patnaik has strongly voiced his concerns regarding the management of the ongoing Rath Jatra of Lord Jagannath, questioning the state government’s approach and drawing comparisons to past events. Shri Patnaik, a seasoned political figure, highlighted three critical issues, urging Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to prioritize the spiritual sanctity and smooth functioning of the revered shrine over political considerations.
Shri Patnaik critically pointed out the government’s decision to open all four gates of the Srimandir as a public spectacle, while failing to plan for a disciplined darshan system inside the temple. He questioned the benefit to devotees if they are still subjected to pushing and chaos within the Natamandap.
“What was the benefit to the devotee by opening the other three doors without this government planning how to have a disciplined darshan in the queue without being pushed once the devotees enter the temple?” Shri Patnaik asked. He emphasized that the government did not consult relevant stakeholders, including the temple management or devotees, before making this move, sending a misleading message to the public.
The veteran leader expressed dismay over the apparent lack of coordination between the government and the temple administration during the recent Rath Jatra. He cited the unfortunate incident where Lord Balabhadra reportedly fell on the scaffolding, attributing it to either untrained personnel or a severe lack of coordination.
Shri Patnaik questioned the delay in investigating such incidents and diagnosing their causes, highlighting a perceived negligence in temple management. He further revealed that the Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee has not met for ten months, a clear violation of the rule requiring a meeting every two months, and that the government has yet to nominate its representatives. This raises serious questions about who is responsible for addressing legal impediments and ensuring proper governance.
Shri Patnaik strongly criticized what he perceives as the politicization of Shree Jagannath culture. He specifically questioned the issuance of invitation cards for the Rath Jatra this year, a practice he deemed unprecedented and against the traditional ethos where Lord Jagannath himself comes out to give darshan to all.
“Shree Jagannath does not send invitations to anyone to watch the Ratha Jatra,” he asserted, adding that this move risks diminishing Lord Jagannath’s universal appeal and could be seen as an insult to the entire community of devotees by singling out particular individuals. He urged the government to treat all Shree Jagannath-related programs as dedications rather than political events.
In light of the current cholera epidemic in Odisha, Shri Patnaik also pressed the government for concrete measures to ensure the health and safety of lakhs of devotees expected to attend the Rath Jatra, especially concerning food and water from open stalls. He concluded by advising Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a fellow district native, to prioritize the sanctity and proper management of the Shree Jagannath Temple, stressing the need for immediate formation of the Temple Management Committee and expert consultation for streamlining darshan.