PURI: The Suar and Mahasuar Nijog (association of servitors engaged in cooking prasad) of Jagannath Temple on Sunday announced its decision not to cook ‘Mahaprasad’ from Monday protesting the arrest of a servitor.

In a letter to the Chief Administrator of the temple on Saturday night, president of the association Bhagban Suar said the cooks have been protesting restriction imposed on sale of ‘Mahaprasad’ in the ‘Bhitar Bedha’ of the temple. The temple administration had prohibited sale of ‘Mahaprasad’ in ‘Bhitar Bedha’ following Orissa High Court order.

On Saturday, the Nijog members resorted to cease-work in protest against arrest of a servitor, Padmanava Pratihari, who was found selling ‘Mahaprasad’ outside the temple on Friday in violation of a directive of the temple administration that ‘Mahaprasad’ can only be sold at the Ananda Bazaar on the temple premises.

Members of temple administration found Pratihari selling the ‘Mahaprasad’ and informed the Lion’s Gate police who arrested and forwarded him to court.

Lord Jagannath and his siblings had to go without food for nearly six hours on Saturday due to the cease-work by Nijog.

Temple officials could not be contacted as the they were at a meeting with the cooks to resolve the issue.
Source : NIE