Bandh affects normal life in Puri

Normal life was affected here today following a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by lawyers protesting alleged mismanagement during Lord Jagannath's Brahma Parivartan rituals and demanding a judicial probe into the matter by a sitting High Court judge.
Train and bus services were affected during the dawn-to-dusk shut-down called by Puri District Bar Association backed by the opposition parties as lawyers held picketing at various places including the railway station, police said. Agitating lawyers also blocked railway tracks and roads.
Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in the seaside town where roads wore a deserted look as vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt during the 12-hour bandh, supported by major opposition parties like Congress and BJP.

The bandh remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any place, while train services were affected for some time, police said.
While blaming Odisha Government for the Brahma Paribartan fiasco on June 15, leaders of both the parties said they backed the bandh called by lawyers as centuries-old tradition had been violated in Shree Jagannath Temple.
President of Puri District Bar Association, Premanand Mohanty said mismanagement during Brahma Paribartan ritual had hurt the sentiments of all devotees and there should be a thorough inquiry by a sitting Judge of the High Court.

Stringent action should be taken against all those responsible for gross deviation in Brahma Paribartan ritual after thorough inquiry, he said.

Autorickshaw Association in the pilgrim town also supported the bandh call.
"Brahma Paribartan" of the deities in Sri Jagannath Temple, which was scheduled to be held on 'amabasya' night and 'Sankranti' on 'Chaturdasi tithi' on June 15, was delayed amidst chaos and Daitapati priests performed the most secret and sacred ritual during day time on June 16.
High Court Bar Association also supported the bandh called by Puri lawyers. High Court Bar Association President Ashok Kumar Mohapara has called upon other Bar Associations in the state to support Puri lawyers.