File picture of devotees on chariot

Bhubaneswar, May 12: Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb said the temple management would stick to Puri Sankaracharya Nischalanand Saraswati’s advice not to allow devotees ride chariots during car festival this year.

The seer’s opinion has, however, been pending with the state government.

Dibyasingha Deb, who was president of the temple managing committee till recently, said the seer had given his views following consultation with religious scholars and researchers.

Citing the riding on the chariots and touching the deities as great “sin”, the king, who is considered as the prime devotee, said the scriptures and early customs barred anyone except the priests from touching of idols.

The temple administration had been allowing devotees to climb the chariots and touch the deities. However, it became an issue as a large section of the devotees objected to it.

Besides, there were controversies regarding some devotees getting chance to ride the chariots with the help of priests while a majority were deprived of such facilities.

The king made his views clear at a news meet, organised by the Muktimandap Pandit Sabha of the temple. Apart from the seer, many intellectuals were also present along with the vice-chancellor of National Sanskrit University in Tirupati, a former director-general of police, a former Supreme Court judge and a former Orissa High Court judge.