Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) took action against three Supakar servitors of Sri Jagannath temple in connection with the use of iron pans instead of earthen pots in the temple’s kitchen.
All three Supakar servitors are prohibited from entering the premises of the shrine or the holy kitchen (rosha sala). Out of the three, a Palia servitor has also been suspended from the conduct of daily rituals of the trinity. The suspension has been issued by the temple administration under Section 21-B (a) of the Sri Jagannath Temple Act, 1955. SJTA chief administrator Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that any kind of indiscipline or activities beyond tradition would be strictly dealt with.
On September 12, the SJTA Chief Administrator had ordered an investigation and seizure of the pans following a complaint about the use of iron utensils for cooking Maha Prasad in the sacred kitchen of Lord Jagannath. Padhee had directed Suar Mahasuar Nijog, Nijog, and others to visit the kitchen and seize the utensil. They were also asked to investigate the matter and submit a report.
Earlier, the servitors of Suara Mahasuara Nijog had urged the temple administration to stop using iron kadai for cooking Anna Mahaprasad in the temple kitchen. They explained that during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, cooks had been using iron utensils due to the scarcity of earthen pots.
