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Bhubaneswar, June 17: The ‘inordinate delay’ in ‘Brahma Paribartan’ (changeover of spirit) ritual of Nabakalebara of the Trinity at Puri prompted Opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to train their guns on the government. However, the temple administration Wednesday said it has sought a report from the Daitapati Niyog over the issue.
Criticising the delay in conduct of rituals in the Srimandir, Leader of Opposition in state assembly Narasingha Mishra (Cong) said ‘‘The state government must clear its stand on the delay and immediately make a statement.”
Stating that the Chief Minister should have monitored the situation Mishra said, “Late chief minister J B Patnaik had visited the temple several times before Nabakalebara in 1996 and it was a great success.”
Alleging the BJD government had failed to ensure smooth conduct of the major ritual, Mishra said the delay has hurt the sentiments of all the devotees.
“Lakhs of people were hurt over violation of the tradition of conducting ‘Brahma Paribartan’ in the dark of new moon night,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP Legislature party leader Basant Panda came down heavily on the government for the delays in temple rituals. “The government cannot escape responsibility over the issue,” Panda rued.
The Biju Janata Dal, however, termed the allegations as ‘baseless’ and defended the government. BJD spokesperson and Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash said, “There is no validity in the statements of Congress and BJP as the government does not intervene in the matter. The state government has no control over the temple rituals. The Opposition parties should stay away from away from politicising the issue.”
The ‘Brahma Paribartan’ ritual of Nabakalebara was delayed and conducted during day time, Wednesday. It should have been performed in the dark night of Amavashya (June 15) as per Srimandir’s record of rights (RoR).
Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief Suresh Mohapatra, a senior IAS officer, was at the centre of controversy due to delay in the conduct of ‘Brahma Paribartan’, said, ‘‘The SJTA will examine causes of the delay in Brahma changeover process.”
“I have convened a meeting of Daitapati servitors to know the fact. We will inquire into the matter. There has been delay in Brahma Paribartan,’’ he told the reporters here. ‘‘Some say the delay is due to carpenters while others claim that dispute between priests caused delay. Action will be taken against the persons responsible for the delay,’’ he added.