Mahaprasad preparation hit as Ganga, Jamuna wells dry up

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Aug 1:

The Ganga and Jamuna wells inside the Shree Jagannath temple premises in Odisha’s holy town Puri have dried up posing serious problems in the preparation of mahaprasad.

While the Jamuna well has completely dried up, only a little water is available in Ganga. This is insufficient for cooking of large quantities of Bhog based on orders placed by devotees.

These two wells are situated near the kitchen of the temple. Water from these wells are used for cooking of ‘Mahaprasad’.

Under such a situation, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has suggested the Supakars (temple cook servitors) to use water from the well at Ananda Bazaar and Nilachala Upabana for cooking of the ‘Mahaprasad’.

However, the Supakar servitors are not at ease with the solution. They say fetching water from such a distance for cooking of ‘Mahaprasad’ will be a painful and difficult task and demand the renovation of Ganga and Jamuna wells or for making alternative arrangements.

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator said efforts are being made to recharge the Ganga Jamuna wells. “But since its entire surrounding is made of stone, it is posing a problem. But experts are on the job. If the attempts to recharge these two wells prove unsuccessful, we will make alternative arrangement,” he said.

The SJTA chief, however, said there is no  problem in making bhog for the deities. “Apart from the wells at the Nilachal Upabana and Ananda Bazar, we are trying to provide some taps for the making of mahaprasad,” he said.

The problem has been continuing for the last 20 days. A team of experts had visited the temple on Thursday.

Director Central Groundwater Board, chief engineer of groundwater survey, chief engineer and executive engineer Puri of Public Health department were in the team that visited the temple to have an on the spot assessment of the situation prevailing in the wells.

The team is learnt to have planned for connecting these two wells with other wells in the vicinity. According to sources it will take around one month for making the arrangement.