Mahaprasad: Odisha Govt to Provide Free Mahaprasad to Devotees | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt is planning to offer Mahaprasad of Puri Jagannath Temple free to devotees. Announcing this on Sunday, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said modalities are being worked out to ensure this practice continues.
“Devotees get solace when they have Mahaprasad in Puri. We are thinking of making an arrangement whereby we are able to provide Mahaprasad to devotees.While on a normal day 50,000 devotees throng the shrine, on festive occasions the footfall goes up to 1.5 lakh or even 2 lakh,” Harichandan told the media.
Shrine functionaries said Mahaprasad that is offered to the deities on a daily basis as per rituals is not meant for sale. But the Mahaprasad made by Suars and Mahasuars (group of servitors) is sold daily at Anand Bazar, inside the shrine. The price of the Mahaprasad sold to devotees is dynamic and depends on demand and supply.
There could be two possibilities if Mahaprasad is to be provided free to the devotees. “Firstly, the govt may procure Mahaprasad prepared by the Suars and Mahasuars and distribute it among the devotees. Secondly, the govt may separately prepare a certain quantity of Mahaprasad and give it to the devotees for free. So far, no modality has been finalised,” a shrine official said. Devotees welcomed the announcement of the law minister. “Who does not want to have Mahaprasad of Puri temple? And if we get it for free, nothing like it. Many homeless and poor people who could not get it due to financial constraints, will be able to have Mahaprasad,” said Himansu Sekhar Behera, a devotee from Patia.
Another devotee, Malabika Sahoo from Ganjam, said there is no control over the pricing of Mahaprasad inside Ananda Bazar. “Due to demand and supply issues, sometimes poor people cannot purchase Mahaprasad. If the govt offers Mahaprasad for free, they will be very happy,” Sahoo said.
Congress state spokesperson Santosh Singh Saluja said, “If they provide Mahaprasad for free without discontinuing it midway, I will welcome it. Let’s see how it goes.”
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