Mahaprasad rate chart to be displayed in temple

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided to display rate charts of Mahaprasad items available at the Ananda Bazaar in the premises of the shrine.

As part of Shreemandir reforms suggested by the Supreme Court of India, the temple authorities have inched closer to protect the sanctity and ethos of the centuries old temple and to provide hassle-free service to the devotees.

The move came at a meeting chaired by SJTA Chief Administrator PK

Mohapatra with several Nijogs of the temple on Saturday. The SJTA also decided to lease out the hearths of Jagannath temple kitchen to Suar Mahasuar Nijog for the period of one year. There are over 200 hearths in the Jagannath temple kitchen and more than 600 cooks engaged in preparing different items served to the Lords as Mahaprasad and consumed by thousands of devotees every day.

Sources said that the meeting was held aiming to make the servitors aware of interim judgment of the Supreme Court and its implementation to bring reforms in the temple affairs.

The discussion was held on 12 directions of the apex court in the meeting. The efforts will be made to ensure hassle-free darshan of the Lords for the devotees. It may take one year to implement some of the directions at the temple, Mohapatra said after meeting. Sources said some of the Nijogs and servitors are likely to be seriously affected by the directions of the Supreme Court’s interim judgment. Presently, the temple administration has restricted the servitors from asking devotees for Dakshina inside the temple. Besides, the CCTVs have been installed everywhere on the temple premises to monitor the activities of servitors.  The Supreme Court had earlier directed the temple administration to restrict servitors from collecting dakshina and suggested to provide remuneration to the servitors as per rules.