Bhubaneswar: A senior servitor of the Jagannath Temple in Puri has strongly condemned the display of a Campa Cola advertisement hoarding near the sacred shrine, calling it an affront to religious sentiments and demanding immediate removal. The incident has triggered public outrage and calls for accountability from both authorities and the brand.
The controversy erupted after a photo of the hoarding—featuring Campa Cola branding placed above a shop close to the temple premises—went viral on social media. Devotees and servitors have accused the brand of disrespecting the sanctity of the religious site.
“This is deeply unfortunate and condemnable,” said Ganeswar Mahasuar, a senior servitor at the temple. “Using the image of Lord Jagannath or associating any commercial product with the holiness of the temple is completely unacceptable. This is not just a mistake but a clear insult to the faith of millions of devotees worldwide.”
Mahasuar urged the authorities and business owners involved to remove the hoarding immediately. “If corrective action is not taken swiftly, the temple administration will be compelled to act firmly against those responsible,” he added.
He further appealed to advertisers and brands to exercise sensitivity and avoid using religious imagery for promotional purposes. “Such acts deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees. I request everyone to ensure this is not repeated in the future,” Mahasuar said.
The incident comes just ahead of the annual Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 27, an event that draws lakhs of pilgrims to Puri. The timing of the controversy has added to the emotional intensity of the backlash.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #BoycottCampa began trending, with users slamming the brand for what they called a “blatant marketing gimmick” that trivializes religious beliefs.
Campa Cola, once an iconic Indian soft drink brand and recently relaunched by Reliance Industries, has not yet issued an official statement on the matter as of press time.
Several religious and cultural organizations have also voiced concern, urging companies to respect the sanctity of spiritual landmarks and refrain from exploiting them for commercial gain.
