Daitapatis of Sri Jagannath temple demand holding of annual Car festival

All the four chief Daitas of four deities popularly called 'Badagrahus' said, "If  the car festival of the  lords is not held this year as per tradition, it could not be observed for coming twelve years."

"It should be observed with fifty percent  participation of Daita's and other servitors", Jagannath Swainmahapatra, the Chief Daita of Lord Jagannath said.

He further said all the lock down norms for Coronavirus precaution like maintaining social distancing, sanitization, using face masks should be observed. Besides Jagannath Swainmahaptra, Chief Daita of Balabhadra Haladhar Dasmahapatra, Devi Subhadra Chief Daita Ramchandra Dasmahapatra and of Lord Sudarshan Nabakishore Patimahapatra along with ten other senior Daitapatis participated in the meeting held on Tuesday.

They pleaded to observe Snan poornima ritual of the deities scheduled for June 5 next.

All the Daitapatis demanded for observance of annual Rath Yatra saying that  observing the car festival would put an end to the pandemic.

As per tradition Daitapati servitors remain in charge of the deities during Rath yatra.

They take charge of deities from the regular priests who perform nitees inside the temple from Snan Poornima day till return of the deities to the main temple called Niladri bije.

Their opinion carries weight in issues relating to Rath yatra.

Temple Chief Administrator Dr.Krishan Kumar, District Collector Balwant Singh and Superintendent Of Police Umashankar Dash have  discussed various aspects with Daitapatis on Rath Yatra, according to sources.