The car festival will be held tomorrow. How well is the temple administration prepared for the mega event?

Two kinds of preparations are being made for the purpose. While the temple administration looks after all the rituals pertaining to Lord Jagannath and the car festival, the state administration looks after the law and order angle and required infrastructure development.  We have already made elaborate arrangements for the Nabajauban darshan (darshan of the deities with rejuvenated look after recovery from fortnight-long sickness) and procured every thing that is required during the car festival. 

On rath yatra day, the pahandi bije (bringing the three deities from the temple to mount the chariots) will be held at 9am and the pulling of the chariots will start at 2.30pm. The temple administration along with the servitors is working with a samarpana bhav (sense of devotion). Thee rest depends on the will of the Lord Jagannath. We are only the instrument, He is the Lord.

The issue of whether devotees will be allowed to mount the chariots and touch the deities or not has resurfaced. What is the temple administration’s stand? 

This issue was settled in 2014. As there was a major controversy then, the temple administration had sought the 
opinion of Jagadguru Sankaracharya. He had given his opinion. Later, a PIL was filed acting upon which the high court ruled that the servitors associated with the service of the Lord can mount the chariots. 

That rule is prevalent even today. Even on the rath yatra day, when the deities come out of the temple, no devotee will be allowed to touch the deities. We have installed CCTVs and will monitor everything.  

To generate awareness among the devotees, we will distribute pamphlets in four languages — Odia, Bengali, Hindi and English. If anyone touches the deities, criminal proceedings will be initiated against them. On the other hand, for the greater cause of the devotees, we have introduced insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh during the rath yatra.

Last year, a problem had cropped up relating to climbing of the chariots by the relatives of servitors. They have reiterated the demand again this time … 

No one except the servitors will be allowed on the chariots according to the order of the high court. In 2014, the temple administration had agreed to this. We will follow the order. At the same time, we are stressing on how to build an excellent relationship between the sevayats and the temple administration. Efforts are on to bring about co-ordination among the sevayats themselves. The most important thing is how to motivate the servitors to adhere to this self-imposed discipline.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is in charge of the temple. Only a few days ago, it has claimed it has completed the repair work of the Jagmohan (prayer hall) of the temple. How safe is the 12th century shrine? 

The steel frame has already been installed to ensure the safety of the Jagmohan. As the car festival is beginning tomorrow and the deities will come outside for nine days, there will be an inspection of the sanctum sanctorum. The high court is monitoring the work and Chief Justice himself is regularly visiting the temple to see the progress in the repair work. This time, the ASI did its best and also did quality work. We also inspect all other smaller shrines inside the temple premises. We are hopeful that the main temple and the smaller temples will be made safe. 

Questions are being raised over the quality of Mahaprasad. What steps you are taking to ensure that people get quality Mahaprasad? 

We have to look after four aspects. First, we have to ensure that the nitikanti (rituals) of the Lords are smoothly conducted. All rituals are performed within the stipulated time frame. If there is any delay, we will indirectly be causing pain to the deities. Then comes the cleanliness and hygiene inside the temple. Though some improvements have been made in this regard, many other things need to be done. Then comes the issue of how the devotees can have a darshan of the Lords in an unhurried and smooth way. We are also working on this and have requested all the servitors to help the administration in this aspect. Finally, the most important part, how to serve Mahaprasad to the devotees. Here Mahaparasad is different from all other temples. All the food is first taken to the temple and placed before the Lords. If it is not done, it cannot be called Mahaprasad. We are looking at this aspect. Besides, we are taking steps on how to bring about an improvement in the rosha ghara  (grand kitchen) of the Lords and also in the Ananda Bazaar, where people 
can sit comfortably and take the Mahaprasad. 

There are reports of shortage of water on the temple premises... 

We are aware of it. The public health department has taken up a scheme to recycle the water used in the temple and utilise it for cleaning purposes. The most important thing is how to conserve water. Steps are being taken to artificially recharge the two wells - Ganga and Yamuna. 

Just four days ago, there was a flash flood on the Grand Road following torrential rain. Despite government allotting huge money for the overall infrastructure development of the pilgrim city, nothing seems to have happened on the ground... 

If there is sudden rain at a particular place beyond its retention capacity, a flash flood-like situation may certainly take place. Last year, 90mm rain had occurred within two hours, but the water was evacuated from the Grand Road within 22 minutes. There has been a marked improvement in the drainage system. But we are in touch with the municipality to clear all plastic bottles, bags, chappals and shoes that may pile up on the rath yatra day that could choke the drains. 

You had earlier headed different districts. Now you are also heading government departments. How is the present job different from others? 

In the government, there is a well-defined system.  Everyone is an employee. There is a service code that regulates everything. In the government jobs, the tension is of different kind. The system will take care of you. Here, the nature of the job is totally different. I am new to the system. I have not yet properly gone through the record of rights yet. Here the servitors are not temple’s employees. But I don’t get stressed. Lord Jagannath is taking care of everything. The temple and its rituals are unique from other temples. There are 119 categories of sevayats. On a normal day, 19 to 20 rituals are performed in the temple. But on special occasions, or on a festival day, the number of rituals touches 33. To perform a particular ritual the involvement of four to five categories of servitors is required. If someone does not turn up at the right moment, the entire process gets delayed. So, the job is very complex in nature. Here you have to do perfect human management - we have to win their hearts. On behalf of the temple administration, we have the commander and other personnel who do these things.

How do you plan to strengthen the bonding between servitors and the temple administration? 

Earlier, senior servitors and the representatives of the temple used to sit on every Wednesday and sort out the issues pertaining to the temple. Whatever problem arose inside the temple, it was sorted out there. Now we are planning to revive that system. A few days ago, a major controversy cropped up on the rights of the sevayats. We invited all the servitors to an informal discussion that lasted for nearly an hour and a half. Later, the dispute was resolved and it was realised that it was an interpretational error. We have already introduced a number of welfare schemes including health insurance for the servitors and process is on to provide houses to the poor servitors.