Puri: In order to prevent the entry of non-Hindus, the Sri Jagannath temple administration in Puri has decided to deploy “Pratiharis,” a traditional servitor community, within the temple premises.
The decision comes in response to several incidents of non-Hindus gaining access to the temple, as stated by Secretary of the Pratihari Nijog, Ramachandra Gochhikar, during a press briefing Friday.
Currently, Pratiharis are present from the opening to the closing of the temple, primarily working within its confines.
However, with the increasing number of non-Hindu visitors to the Sri Jagannath temple, the Pratihari Nijog, in consultation with the temple administration, has decided to station two Pratihari servitors at the main gate starting April 14.
Gochhikar said this service will eventually be extended to all four gates of the temple.
UNI