Odisha Srimandir servitors, MLA issued notice for rule violation on Snana Purnima

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Odisha’s Puri has issued notice to several servitors and local MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi for allegedly violating rules on Snana Purnima. The servitors have been asked to reply immediately in this regard.

Servitors Somnath Khuntia and Rajaram Khuntia had allegedly facilitated Puri MLA Jayanta Kumar Sarangi to reach the Snana Mandapa on the day of Snana Purnima, thereby flouting the rules laid down by the temple administration. The two servitors have been suspended by the administration.

The SJTA had prohibited presence of servitors not having any connection with the Snana Purnima rituals on the Snana Mandapa. Violating the norms, several non-concerned servitors had also reached the Snana Mandapa and touched the idols of the deities.

The notice has been served after examination of CCTV footage of the incident.

On the other hand, the MLA said he did not touch the idols while having darshan. “I was not aware of the rules and those present at the spot did not stop me from going near the deities,” he said.