Bhubaneswar: New Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arabinda Padhee on Friday, July 12 made it clear that no mobile phones will be allowed on Raths.
Today, on July 12, Arabinda Padhee took charge as the new Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA)
Soon after taking charge as the new chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Padhee said that whatever rituals are there and how they can be streamlined and conducted properly, the focus will be on it. The district and the temple administration will take steps and work in coordination.
Padhee also said stern action will be taken against those indulging in indiscipline.
“We have found that some unauthorised persons are climbing the chariots and carrying mobile phones. No mobile phone can be used on chariots and cannot click pictures,” said Padhee.
Padhee further said that discussions with various Niojogs have already been done in this regard. We hope they will cooperate so that there is no bad name in our culture.
When asked about the Adapa Mandap bije mishap, in which Bhagwan Balbhadra slipped on the makeshift ladder (Charmala) while being taken to Adapa Mandapa of Shrigundicha Temple from Taldhwaja Rath through Pahandi procession, the new SJTA Chief Administrator said, “We seek forgiveness from the Mahaprabhu for whatever happened. As per the decision of the Managing Committee, a committee has been formed and we should wait for its report. The Temple administration will certainly focus on it so that such incidents do not recur.”
It may be noted that the Odisha government on Thursday night appointed Arabinda Kumar Padhee as the new chief administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), replacing senior IAS officer V V Yadav.
A notification issued by the law department late on Thursday night invoked sub-section 19 of the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954 to effect the appointment.
On the other hand Odisha’s Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Friday said, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) recommended by the high-level committee headed by Justice Biswanath Rath for the opening of Ratna Bhandar (Treasure trove) will be made public in a day or two.
“The SOPs recommended by the high-level committee are being examined. Various aspects including the legal angle of the SOP are being analysed. Clarity will come out in a day or two,” Harichandan said.
