Puri: The reappearance of mice and cockroaches inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Shree Jagannath Temple has raised concern among the sevayats, prompting the temple administration to discuss measures to check the menace.
Puri District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida held detailed discussions with senior sevayats, Chhatisa Nijoga Nayaka Janardan Patajoshi Mahapatra and the secretary of the Daitapati Nijoga at the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) office on Friday.
After the meeting, Patajoshi Mahapatra said mice and cockroaches take advantage of the darkness inside the temple when the deities retire for the night and sometimes cause disturbance. He said the sevayats were particularly concerned about preventing any harm to the sacred body of the deities.
According to temple traditions and scriptures, specific measures are prescribed to deal with the problem, including setting traps for mice and placing pots containing jaggery to attract cockroaches.
Mahapatra said the area from the Jay-Vijay door to the sanctum remains dark during the night when the deities retire, which provides an opportunity for the pests to move around. On several occasions, mice and cockroaches have also reportedly made their way into the Kanaka Mundi Chandua (canopy atop the deities).
He said a further meeting would be held shortly under the chairmanship of the SJTA Chief Administrator to take a final decision on measures to address the problem while adhering to the temple’s established traditions.
