For peaceful Rath Yatra: Spl officer holds meeting with Daitas today

PURI: Special Officer in charge of the Rath Yatra and Water Resources department Secretary Suresh Mohapatra discussed with the Daitapati and other servitors on Friday regarding which servitors and how many of them would be available for the service of the deities on the chariots during the Rath Yatra at Puri.

According to the Special Officer, most of the issues related with the servitors have been solved in the first meeting that was held on Wednesday. Mohapatra said the meeting was successful and the servitors supported them in solving different issues related to Rath Yatra.

On the other hand, the Daitapati servitors moved out of the meeting midway and expressed their discontentment outside alleging that nothing was solved in the meeting and that no decision was taken. Office bearers of the daitapati nijog said they had walked out of the meeting.

Daitapatis sounded a veiled warning saying the state government and the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will be held responsible for any indiscipline during the Rath Yatra.

Mohapatra said that they want to make the world famous Rath Yatra peaceful and incident free with the active support of the servitors of all Nijogs of the Sri Mandir. “As we have very good relation with the servitors, I’m hopeful enough to sort out their issues in the second meeting,” he added.

On Friday meeting, Mohapatra and the SJTA would discuss with Ghantua, Suaar, Mahasuaar, Daitapati servitors to discuss about which servitors and how many of them would available on the chariots of the deities during Rath Yatra.