Puri: Resentment brewed among devotees in Puri Srimandir after few tourists were found eating ‘Mahaprasad’ wearing their shoes here in this district Wednesday.
A video of few tourists eating the ‘Mahaprasad’ with their shoes is going viral on social media. This triggered outrage as devotees and social media users demanded a probe and necessary action against the tourists for insulting and disrespecting Lord Jagannath and the Odia culture.
According to sources, a tourist identified as Manas Das from Kolkata had posted around 12 pictures of his tour in Sri Mandir. Among them, nine of the pictures show him and his friend eating Mahaprasad on their car with their shoes on.
This has spread resentment among the devotees, the temple sevayats and Lord Jagannath worshippers. Among the tourists is also a woman who is seen eating the ‘bhog’ in her shoes.
Soon after several comments, Manas deleted the pictures from his account.
“Every person should know of Jagannath culture and tradition before eating the Mahaprasad. As per norms, they should eat the Mahaprasad sitting on the ground on a banana leaf,” said Srimandir temple sevayat Pradipt Mahapatra.
PNN
