Puri( Focus Plus) : The authorities of Jagannath temple have suspended senior Daitapati servitor Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra from the shrine duty for a period of one month.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) initiated the disciplinary action against Das Mahapatra for allegedly tarnishing the dignity of the 12th century shrine.
The suspension order, issued by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Arabinda Padhee, bars the Daitapati servitor from performing any rituals at the shrine for one month (30 days).
Das Mahapatra has also been prohibited from entering the temple premises during the suspension period.
The temple administration had earlier served a showcause notice on Das Mahapatra in connection with his contradictory statements regarding the construction of idols for a newly-built shrine at Digha in West Bengal. The SJTA had asked Das Mahapatra to submit his reply within seven days.
The SJTA served the showcause notice on Das Mahapatra in the wake of media reports that surplus neem wood (sacred Daru) from Nabakalebar rituals at Puri Jagannath temple were used for construction of idols for the Digha shrine.
Das Mahapatra reportedly told some media channels in West Bengal that he had taken the surplus neem wood from the 2015 Nabakalebar rituals at Puri Jagannath temple to Digha for construction of idols.
