Puri: The ongoing stalemate over the Banakalagi ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings continued as it could not be resolved at Srimandir Niti Sub-Committee meeting held today.
It has been 28 days that Banakalagi ritual of deities has not been performed since Niladri Bije. It was delayed due to rigid stands taken by both the Duttamahapatra Nijog, the servitor body and the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration. Now, all eyes are now at the Managing Committee meeting scheduled to be held on August 1.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Ranjan Kumar Das said, “The topic was thoroughly discussed in the meeting, and we heard several opinions on it. Since the temple menging committee is the highest decision-making body, these will be presented during its meeting on August 1,” said Shri Das.
The SJTA attempted to persuade the Duttamahapatra Nijog by referencing the laws and the Record of Rights. In order to put an end to this interference with the Lords’ ritual, he remarked, “We are still open to discussions and are hopeful that the servitors would cooperate with the administration.”
He continued by saying that Wednesday is supported by the justifications offered thus far and the Record of Rights. If Ekadasi or other rites fall on Wednesday, they can be moved to Thursday. However, the temple management must also make this decision, he added.
The administration had asked the Duttamahaptra servitors to perform the ritual on every Wednesday of the week while the servitor body insisted upon continuing the ongoing practice to render their services on Thursday. The Duttamahaptra servitors were issued notices twice asking them to perform it on every Wednesday but they did not carry it.
Shri Das hoped that things would be resolved at the Temple Managing Committee meeting.
On the other hand, Madan Dutta Mahapatra, the President of Duttamahaptra Nijog said they went to the temple to perform Banaklaagi seva but were prevented by officials. He said as per records and practice Banakalagi seva could be performed on Wednesday or on Thursday and questioned why the Administration is rigid for Wednesday.
Instead of asking us to perform the seva on only Wednesday they should consider both Wednesday and Thursday, he said.
