Puri: Suar servitors of Srimandir, who are responsible for the cooking and selling of Mahaprasad, have opposed construction of a permanent ramp for differently-abled devotees through the Anand Bazar on the shrine premises.
The servitors have submitted a memorandum in this regard to Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief PK Mohapatra.
In the memorandum, the servitors welcomed the SJTA decision to construct the permanent ramp but urged the temple administration to keep the Anandbazar free from such construction.
It is worth mentioning here that the SJTA had earlier constructed a temporary ramp through the North Gate of Srimandir. Differently-abled devotees were using the ramp to reach Kirtan Chakada to pay obeisance to the presiding deities.
The temple administration has decided to construct a permanent ramp thorough Anandbazar after the temporary facility was declared unsafe for users.
The Suar servitors claimed that construction of a permanent ramp through Anandbazar would create unnecessary congestion for workers who carry Mahaprasad from the temple to the place where it is sold. Moreover, devotees would face problems to purchase the temple delicacies due to heavy rush at Anandbazar, they said in the memorandum.
“The ramp would hinder quick transportation of Mahaprasad from the temple to Anandbazar. Besides, the situation would turn worse during festivals when thousands of devotees gather on the shrine premises,” said the memorandum.
The servitors urged the SJTA to construct the ramp through the West Gate of the shrine.
In a related development, Srimandir Managing Committee member Anant Tiadi has also opposed construction of ramp through Anandbazar. He has urged the SJTA to find an alternate route for the facility.
