Servitors: Plaints filed against servitors for using mobiles on chariots during Bahuda Yatra in Puri | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Wednesday lodged police complaints against two unidentified servitors for allegedly using mobile phones on the chariots during Bahuda Yatra in Puri on Monday.
Despite the ban on mobile phones on chariots being in place for several years, this marks the first instance of legal action being taken by SJTA against violators.
“We found two unidentified servitors with mobile phones on the chariots of Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Complaints with photographic evidence have been submitted to Kumbharapada police station for necessary action,” Ajay Kumar Jena, an SJTA official said. If we come across photos or videos of more servitors with mobile phones on chariots, fresh complaints would be filed against them, he added.
“A case will be registered. Charges are being verified. We will take the help of SJTA to identify the two servitors,” said an officer of Kumbharapada police station.
SJTA imposed a curb on mobile phones because numerous servitors often boarded the chariots solely to pose for photos, shoot reels and take selfies near the idols.
A few days ago, SJTA’s chief administrator Arabinda Padhee issued a stern warning to servitors against the use of mobile phones on chariots. Padhee’s instruction came days after the idol of Lord Balabhadra fell on some servitors on Taladhwaja chariot on July 9, two days after Rath Yatra, in front of Gundicha temple. It was alleged the chariot was overcrowded with servitors, who were glued to their mobile phones.
Many servitors endorsed the action. “ There is no need to take mobile phones. Many young servitors, who did not have any duty on chariots, often overcrowd chariots only to take photos and selfies on their phones,” said Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, a senior Daitapati servitor of the temple.
SJTA lodged police complaints on Monday against three men, who boarded the chariots posing as servitors during Bahuda Yatra. Since 2014, devotees are not allowed to board the chariots following a directive from the Orissa high court. The HC directive came in response to the recommendations of Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the Puri Shankaracharya, who said that only duty-bound servitors should be allowed to ascend the chariots.
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