Servitors to lit Akhand Diya in protest after Rath Yatra was denied at Baladevjew temple

Kendrapara: Anguished over the Odisha government’s decision not to allow Rath yatra, the servitors of the Baladevjew temple here have unanimously decided to lit Akhanda Diyas at the sanctum sanctorum on Snana Purnima

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Servitors who appealed to the devotees, and denizens of Kendrapara to lit diyas at their houses and also at basil plant to show their anger and protest against the government’s decision.

Kendrapara district collector Amrut Rituraj, on Thursday, denied permission to construct the Brahma taladhawaj chariot to organize a car festival at Baladevjew temple.

The government had announced that the annual Rath yatra this year will not be held anywhere in the state except at Puri due to covid pandemic.

Protesting such a decision of the state government, the District BJP unit on June 18 last sat on dharana in front of the district collector’s office.

The servitors of Baladevjew temple, several religious organizations, sadhus and mahants along with leaders of several political parties have also urged the authorities to allow the car festival at Baladevjew temple without devotees and with limited participation of servitors in adherence to the covid guidelines as decided in case of Car festival in Puri but in vain.

The servitors have already filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a direction to the state government to allow the Rath yatra at Baladevjew temple.(UNI)