A controversy been generated after Puri Shankaracharya Nishchalananda Saraswati skipped the rath yatra rituals this year. How do you feel?

We are really sorry about this unprecedented happening. We do not know why he did not turn up. Had he come, we would certainly have welcomed him. Next year, if needed, I will personally go and persuade him to come to the chariots. We are against breaking of any tradition.

If you are really concerned about him, you could have gone and persuaded him to reconsider his decision this time. He had categorically stated a day before the grand event that he would not come to the chariots.

We just insisted that the Orissa High Court’s order be followed. If we allow someone to mount the chariots, what about the other devotees? If the seer had come, I would have personally taken him to the chariots. We are like his sons. But, I must clarify that the tradition of Shankaracharya climbing the chariots had begun only a few years ago. Still, we respect him as he is a saint and guru of all Hindus.

Then what was the problem in accepting his suggestion to restrict the climbing of devotees on the chariots?

(Pauses) We are here because of Lord Jagannath. He is a living deity. If an attempt is made to create a division between the Lord and His devotees, how can we tolerate it? What has pained us is Shankaracharya’s statement that touching the deities is a great sin. If that is a sin then what about the crores of people who have already touched the deities?

A section of people argue that no restriction should be imposed on how many followers of Shankaracharya accompany him to the chariots…

Why Shankaracharya alone? There should be no bar on devotees coming to the chariots. What we had suggested was that except on rath yatra, bahuda yatra (return car festival) and suna vesha (ritual of the Lords being bedecked with gold jewellery), devotees be allowed to climb the chariots. We had also suggested that timings for climbing of chariots should be announced in advance. But, the issue went to the high court, which passed an order. We are of the opinion that there should be an inquiry. Find out the people responsible for all this mess.

Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb is considered as the living representative of Lord Jagannath and an integral part of the rath yatra. Is it not wrong on the part of the Daiatapati Niyog to boycott him?

He is aware of the Jagananth cult. His endorsement of Shankaracahray’s views that touching Lord Jagannath is a great sin has pained us. Besides, he is the head of all the servitors. He has failed to perform his duty impartially. He never discussed any issue related to the temple with us. He should have thought twice before making any statement (concerning the barring of devotees from accessing the deities). He has also remained blind to the cause of the daitapatis. Though we have all the respect for him, we will continue to boycott him in the coming days.

It has been alleged that the temple administration wrote a letter to Shankaracharya under the pressure of the daitapatis.

It is a fabricated story to undermine our dignity. Why should we put pressure on any one? Rather, it is the temple administration that should be blamed for the stand-off. Earlier, a letter was sent soliciting Shankaracharaya’s views whether non-Hindus should be allowed to mount the chariots. Later, the content of the letter was changed. Now, every one is suffering because of that.

What is your suggestion to end the impasse?

All people, including the Gajapati, Shankaracharya, daitapatis and the temple administration, must shed their egos. All of them should sit together and find a solution to the problem, so that no one has any grievance.

It has been alleged that the daitapatis co-operated with the temple administration during the rath yatra only after they were handsomely rewarded. Is that true?

It is completely a fabricated story to defame us. We have co-operated with the administration keeping the greater interest of the devotees in mind. In fact, the income of the servitors has been greatly affected, as devotees could not climb the chariots this time. There is a provision that 80 per cent of the temple’s earnings during rath yatra should be given to the daitapatis. If the state government is happy with the servitors, it should announce some rewards in kind or cash.

You are a simple servitor. From where do you get all these gold ornaments to wear?

I have inherited the gold ornaments from my ancestors. Also, I have added some ornaments of my own. We consider the Lord our brother. As the grand car festival is associated with our brother, we put on new clothes and wear all the gold ornaments.

Can we expect same kind of co-operation from the daitapatis during the bahuda yatra (return car festival)?

Why not? But one thing, the temple administration should allow the devotees to touch the chariots. If it does not concede to this small request, I cannot assure anyone of full co-operation of the servitors.

Besides being a servitor, you are also president of the Puri Hotel Owners’ Association. Has the ban on the entry of devotees to the chariots affected the hotel industry?

Yes. A number of bookings have already been cancelled. People from various states rush to Puri to touch the deities. They never get such an opportunity anywhere in the world. When they came to know that they will be deprived of this opportunity, they cancelled the bookings. The hotel industry has suffered a lot on this count.

Won’t you agree that hotel owners exploit the common people on important occasions such as rath yatra?

Why blame the hoteliers? We are registered. We have a fixed tariff, which is maintained thoughout the year. Instead of charging more, we sometimes give 20 per cent discount to our old customers. Of course, I cannot comment on the tariff charged by numerous smaller hotels and rest houses.

You have a multi-faceted personality. You are close to chief minister Naveen Patnaik and an active member of the BJD. But your party has never considered you for any post. Does that not hurt you?

(Smiles) I have never aspired to become an MLA or MP. My greatest identity is that I am the servitor of Lord Jagannath. No post is above it. Everyone loves and respects me because of this. I am also fortunate to have received the good wishes and love of Naveen babu. He trusts me. What more should I expect?

The Puri culture is witnessing a shift now. From a peaceful city, it is witnessing law and order problems, including murders.

(Pauses) The law and order situation has deteriorated. Competent police officers should be posted here. Keeping the Nabakalebar festival (change of idols) scheduled for next year in mind, the state government should introduce a better policing system such as the police commissionerate system in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack. A senior police officer in the rank of the commissioner should be appointed. Of course, it pains us to see youngsters getting addicted to drugs. But, what can we possibly do when there is degeneration of the entire value system in the society? The Lord is there to punish those who commit wrong.