Guvernor urged to end practice of devotees climbing chariots

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Surakhya Sena (OSS), a cultural outfit, on Friday urged Governor SC Jamir to direct the State Government to take quick decision on the recommendations of Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to put an end to the practice of devotees climbing the chariots and touching the deities during the annual Rath Yatra.

Following a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan here demanding acceptance of the Sankaracharya’s recommendations, a delegation led by Sena president Abhishek Joshi met Governor’s Secretary and submitted a memorandum to the Governor in this regard. 

Arguing that touching the deities is not religious as per the holy scriptures of Hinduism, Joshi said devotees should not be allowed to touch the deities by servitors who perform rituals on the chariot during Rath Yatra.

Joshi alleged that some self-centered Daitapati sevayats (servitors) of the Sri Jagannath temple have made a business out of helping devotees climb the chariots and touch the deities. This is not sanctioned by the scriptures and must be stopped, he added. 

The outfit in the memorandum mentioned that the State Government succumbs to the unreasonable demands of the Daitapati Nijog beyond the religious protocol. “We condemn such irrational attitude of the Nijog and urge the Governor to interfere into the matter as soon as possible,” it said.