Whip-cracking Collector faces wrath ahead of Rath Yatra
PURI: Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal seems to have frustrated a section of servitors with his efforts to set the affairs of Sri Jagannath temple in order.Agarwal has been in the firing line of a group of servitors who are leaving no stone unturned to thwart his plans as they consider him an obstacle in their way of managing temple affairs.Sources said the Collector drew ire after his efforts to implement the Orissa High Court order which asked the district administration to ensure that no person other than servitors on duty be allowed to climb onto the chariots during Rath Yatra.
Last year, Agarwal was misbehaved by some servitors in presence of IG, Law Minister and other top functionaries. During the Niladri Bije, some servitors had challenged the State machinery and even allegedly manhandled a few scribes who were covering the car festival. The incident had led to filing of three complaints by the Collector, a lady police officer and mediapersons. Since then, Agarwal is on target of some servitors. The recent controversy over rumours of First Lady Savita Kovind being disrespected in the 12th century shrine during her visit with President Ramnath Kovind on March 18 is a glaring example.
Prior to the visit of the country’s first couple, then Chief Administrator PK Jena, the Collector and SP had separate meetings with the Chhatisha Nijog and other bodies of servitors to ensure smooth darshan of the President and his wife. Following the couple’s visit, the temple managing body held a meeting to scrutinise role of servitors after receiving a letter from the SP that there was an attempt by some servitors to breach the inner security cordon of the Kovinds.
After the Collector took up the matter at the meeting, the temple body found that some servitors encroached the space at Ratna Simhasan and prevented the couple from bowing down at the pedestal of the Trinity while a few brushed against the First Lady. The temple body, in which servitors are also members, unanimously resolved to take measures to prevent such incidents from happening during visits of VVIPs in future. As soon as the copy of resolution became public, some servitors raised much hue and cry over the alleged disrespect to the First couple and trained their guns on Agarwal. However, Chief Administrator PK Mohapatra denied receiving any such communication from the President’s office.
As per reports, some servitors are peeved over Supreme Court’s order to stop collection of donations of any kind from devotees but have reluctantly agreed for implementation of the order. They have filed affidavits with the district judge who was directed by the apex court to report on the status before June 30.
This apart, Sri Jagannath Sevayat Sammillani, an association of servitors, has threatened to launch a non-cooperation movement during the car festival. Rath Yatra is an occasion where servitors arm twist the administration to revoke all suspension orders against them and fulfil their demands.
Meanwhile, devotees in general have welcomed the apex court judgment and opined that the order should be implemented in letter and spirit. Notably, several temple administrators have succumbed to the pressure tactics of servitors in the past as any hiccup during the Rath Yatra is a blot on their service record.
Konark temple replica work to start from Rath Yatra
Puri:The construction of a new temple near Satyabadi along NH-316 in line with Konark Sun temple would begin on the day of Rath Yatra. This was informed by Raghunath Mohapatra, noted sculptor and president of State Lalit Kala Academy, at a seminar on ‘Pattidian to Pattachitra’, organised by Puri Creative Handicraft Cooperative Society in association with State Lalit Kala Academy on Monday. He said the temple will be constructed over 100 acres of land.
Speaking at the seminar, noted researcher Surendra Mishra said Odissi dance has evolved from Mahari dance form and Pattachitra. Sri Jagannath temple priest Sidheswar Mahapatra said the Puri temple is a divine cultural centre which has given birth to several cultural and spiritual developments. On the occasion, three ‘Biswakarmas’ engaged in the construction of the three chariots for the Rath Yatra were felicitated.