Puri: Devotees visiting Sri Jagannath temple here have expressed resentment over the ban imposed on sale of Tankatorani and Rabidi at Anand Bazaar on shrine premises here.
As part of Srimandir reforms, the Sri Jagannath temple administration (SJTA) has banned the sale of Tankatorani and Rabidi through a notification. The notification prohibits sale of Tankatorani (a solution of curd, water rice, lemon leaves and green chilly) and Rabidi (milk dessert) on Srimandir premises.
With the ban coming into effect Friday evening, the temple authorities have decided to conduct raids at Ananda Bazar to contain sale of the banned products as ‘mahaprasad’.
The SJTA has also imposed restrictions on sale of ‘mahaprasad’ on road and on temple premises. It also directed that no minor could be engaged in the sale of Abadha (prasad) in the temple.
In deference to the reforms, the temple administration has also prohibited entry of youths who help sell Abadha of suara servitors at Ananda Bazar. The entry of persons who seek money from devotees was also prohibited on the premises where Mahaprasad used to be sold.
According to reports, a squad formed by the temple administration earlier, have been drafted to raid Ananda Bazar continuously and take stringent measures against those who flout the order.
However, the new rule by the temple administration disappoints the servitors in the temple as well.
‘‘Tankatorani is associated with the sentiments of the devotees. It should not be banned. The authorities should have taken appropriate measures to improve the quality of Tankatorani. The suaras and mahasuaras should be allowed to sell Tankatorani as usual,’’ suggested servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra.
“We could not understand why the temple administration has banned Tankatorani. We are sure, no one was taken ill by consuming the delicious drink. Poor devotee who could not buy Mahaprasad used to drink Tankatorani. Srimandir authorities should immediately withdraw the order,” said servitor Loknath Mahapatra.
Many devotees, meanwhile, have opposed the SJTA move saying Tankatorani has a special place in the history of Jagannath cult. “Devotees usually drink Tankatorani after taking Mahaprasad at Anand Bazar. They collect Rabidi from shops outside Srimandir but cannot find Tankatorani anywhere else. The administration should withdraw the ban,” suggested devotee Santosh Biswal from Pattamundai in Kendrapara.
A few devotees also claimed that devotees often drink Tankatorani when there is delay in getting Mahaprasad. “We had to wait for long to get Mahaprasad while visiting Srimandir last summer. We took Tankatorani to satisfy our hunger. We shouldn’t be denied the delicious drink,” said Sabita Mishra, a devotee from Bahanaga in Balasore.
When contacted, Srimandir PRO Laxmidhar Pujapanda said the administration has not banned Tankatorani altogether. “We have asked servitors not to sell stale Tankatorani and Mahaprasad to devotees at Anand Bazar,” he said. PNN
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