Puri temple admin to install donation boxes during Rath Yatra

After debarring servitors from accepting donations from devotees, the administration at Jagannath temple in Puri has now decided to install 12 offertory boxes near chariots during the July 14 Rath Yatra.

P K Mohapatra, the chief administrator Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, said four 'hundis' (donation boxes) each would be set up in the cordoned-off areas near the three chariots.

This apart, six more 'hundis' would be installed inside the Gundicha temple to facilitate devotees to make donations, he said.

"The security personnel would guard the 'hundis' round the clock as about 10 lakh devotees are expected to throng the Rath Yatra," Mohapatra said.

Last month, the temple administration debarred the servitors from receiving donations, either cash or kind, from devotees, acting on the directive of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, on June 8, issued a slew of directions to prevent any such malpractices and mismanagement in the Puri temple, taking a serious note of the alleged exploitation of the devotees by the "sevaks" (servitors).

Mohapatra said the temple administration issued public notice, requesting the devotees not to give donation to the servitors in the temple.

The servitors, too, have been warned of action for violation of the apex court order, he said.

"If any devotee is willing to donate, he/she has to put the donation in the hundi (donation box)," Mohapatra added.