Jagran correspondent, Puri. Mahesh Sahu, a member of the management committee, has written a letter to Gajapati Maharaj, protesting against the opening of the doors of the temple from 12 midnight on the English New Year. In this regard, he has also sent a letter to the Law Minister and the Chief Administrator of Sri Mandir.
Shri Sahu has mentioned in his letter that according to Western culture, the new day is considered to start at 12 o'clock in the night, whereas in Sanatan culture, the new day starts with the sunrise. Therefore, according to Sanatan culture and tradition, the doors of the temple should be opened only at the time of sunrise.
He has also written in the letter that by changing the policy and tradition for one's own convenience and depriving Mahaprabhu of night's rest, opening the temple at 12 o'clock in the night and making arrangements for darshan is against tradition.
Shri Sahu further said that due to the first offering policy, the doors of the temple are opened early in the morning, in such a situation it is very important to give enough time to Mahaprabhu for rest.
He has also requested the devotee community to be aware about this matter and not go to the temple at midnight and come for darshan only at regular time.
5 member team of Shrimandir administration went to Nayagarh to identify the wood of the chariot
The process for the world famous Rath Yatra of Puri has started. On the upcoming Saraswati Puja, Rathkastha will be worshiped. To identify the chariot wood, on Monday, a representative team led by Chittaranjan Mahapatra, the Rat Tattvadhar from the Sri Mandir Administration Office, left for Badraul Thakurani Temple located at Badmul in Daspalla range of Nayagarh district.
This team has gone on a journey from Shrimandir with goods like maharda, coconut, patani, vermilion, lamp and naivedya. Rath Amin Laxman Mahapatra and Bhoi Sardar Rabi Bhoi, associated with chariot manufacturing, are also included in this team.
It has been told that tomorrow (Tuesday) after the worship at Badraul Thakurani temple, the process of identification of Rathkashtha will start after taking permission from the Goddess. A total of 865 pieces of wood are required to build the chariot. 47 sticks from last year are left, while a total of 818 sticks—Asan, Dhaura and Phansi—will be required.
With the Rathkastha becoming favorable on the upcoming Saraswati Puja, the chariot construction work will begin on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. Chittaranjan Mahapatra, the principle principle of Rath, said, “I consider myself blessed for the first time that I have got the opportunity to identify the Rathkastha of Mahaprabhu. I have completely dedicated myself to Mahaprabhu. With His blessings, the work of identification of the Rathkastha for the Rath Yatra will be completed smoothly this year, we believe.”