Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday clarified that the tahia, the floral headgear of Lord Jagannath, was taken off during Thursday’s pahandi ritual of Rath Yatra because it had become soaked in rain and heavy.
SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee said the deity was already covered with a raincoat, locally called gilapa, to protect the idol from the downpour.
As the large tahia absorbed water and grew heavier, servitors were concerned it could cause difficulty during the pahandi. They then took the decision to remove it.“
SJTA had no role in the decision,” Padhee said, while responding to criticism that had erupted after visuals of the Lord without the traditional headgear during Rath Yatra went viral.
