Bhubaneswar: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday issued a stern warning to servitors, stating that strict action will be taken against them if they carry mobile phones on the chariots during Bahuda Yatra on July 15.
The tough stance was taken after the wooden idol of Lord Balabhadra fell on some servitors on the Taladhwaja chariot when it was being taken to Gundicha temple during the Pahandi ritual on July 9, the third day of Rath Yatra.Overcrowding of the chariot was believed to have resulted in the accident, which hurt the sentiments of devotees worldwide and drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and public alike.
Allegations surfaced that several servitors boarded the chariot beyond its capacity, primarily to pose for photos and selfies with the deity and to be captured by television cameras.
“We found that many servitors took mobile phones on chariot and it was overcrowded. In the guidelines prepared before Rath Yatra, it was clearly written that nobody can carry mobile phones on the chariots. We will enforce the rule strictly on Bahuda Yatra on July 15 and Niladri Bije on July 19 and action will be taken against violators,” SJTA’s new chief administrator, Arabinda Padhee, who assumed office on Friday, said.
On Thursday night, the state govt removed Vir Vikram Yadav from the post of SJTA’s chief administrator over the accident. Yadav was blamed for allegedly failing to keep the chariot less crowded.
Padhee said those servitors who do have any role to play in rituals will not be allowed to board the chariots.
As per the Rath Yatra SOP, altogether 74 people (60 servitors and temple staff and 14 ghantuas who beat gongs and cymbals) are to be present on Taladhwaja chariot of Lord Balabhadra, 62 people (50 servitors and temple staff and 12 ghantuas) on Darpadalana chariot of Devi Subhadra and 86 people (16 ghantuas and 70 servitors and temple staff) on Lord Jagannath’s chariot, Nandighosh.

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