Vandalisation of chulhas at Jagannath Temple: Odisha Chief Secretary, Police DGP visit Puri to take stock of situation

Puri: Hours after reports of media over vandalisation of chulhas (earthen ovens) at Jagannath Temple, Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and DGP Sunil Kumar Bansal visited Puri to take stock of the situation.

Puri District Collector Samarth Verma and senior members of the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) also joined the Chief Secretary and DGP.

While speaking to the media persons, the Chief Secretary said that there is no threat to the temple as all works are being executed in close coordination with ASI and the Srimandir Heritage Corridor project is being undertaken for the benefit of lakhs of devotees.

He also said that there seems no specific motive behind vandalization of the chulhas. However, someone carried out this act while hiding to avoid detection.

It is to be noted here that more than 60 Pithapuri, Kothabhoga, Satapuri and Thadapuri earthen ovens (chulhas) inside the Jagannath Temple’s kitchen, known as the Rosaghara, were allegedly vandalised by some unknown persons late on Saturday night.

While the exact reason behind vandalisation of the earthen ovens is yet to be known, it is suspected that some miscreants allegedly ransacked the chullas after the Bada Singhara besha of the deities due to business rivalry in Anand Bazar.

Reportedly, there are 189 chullas at the Rosaghara to prepare the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath.