Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has issued a warning to traders selling food items in the name of Mahaprasad outside the Puri temple, stating that strict action will be taken against those found violating the rule.
According to SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, some traders in the Bada Danda have been selling Khaja under the guise of Mahaprasad.
He emphasized that the devotion of pilgrims visiting the shrine is sacred, and unscrupulous individuals should not be allowed to take advantage of this. The state government and the temple administration have been implementing various reforms to prevent such malpractices.
Padhee posted on ‘X’ that authentic Mahaprasad is sold in the Anand Bazaar of Srimandir after being offered to the deities. However, some traders outside the temple, including those in Bada Danda, have been misleading devotees by selling Khaja as Mahaprasad. Traders have been advised to refrain from this practice to avoid misleading pilgrims and disrespecting their emotions.
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ଲାଗିପରେ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିର ଆନନ୍ଦବଜାରରେ ଖଜା ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ବିକ୍ରି ହୋଇଥାଏ । କିନ୍ତୁ ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିର ବାହାରେ, ଏପରିକି ବଡ଼ଦାଣ୍ଡରେ କିଛି ବ୍ୟବସାୟୀ ମହାପ୍ରସାଦ ନାମରେ ଖଜା ବିକ୍ରି କରୁଥିବା ଦୃଷ୍ଟିଗୋଚର ହୋଇଛି, ଯାହାକି ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରୂପେ ଭୁଲ୍। ତେଣୁ ଏଥିରୁ ବିରତ ରହିବା ସହ ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ବିଭ୍ରାନ୍ତ ନ କରିବାକୁ ସମସ୍ତ ଖଜା…
— Arabinda K Padhee (@arvindpadhee) January 4, 2025
The temple management has decided to prepare Mahaprasad using organically grown rice, a proposal that will be submitted to the state government for approval.
