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Temples in Odisha remain shut, devotees to miss much waited 'Nagarjuna Besha'
The 21st century's first 'Nagarjuna Besha' of Shri Jagannath along with siblings, Shri Balabhadra & Maa Subhadra to be held in Puri Jagannath Temple on 27 November 2020, after 26 years! (1/n)
Temples in Odisha remain shut, devotees to miss much waited 'Nagarjuna Besha'
The 21st century's first 'Nagarjuna Besha' of Shri Jagannath along with siblings, Shri Balabhadra & Maa Subhadra to be held in Puri Jagannath Temple on 27 November 2020, after 26 years! (1/n)
Nagarjuna Besha will see the deities take on the form of warriors holding arrows, bows, plough, wheel & mace which commemorates the killing of Sahashrarjuna by Prabhu Parsuram, as per beliefs.
This avtar (besha) of deities is special since it occurs in several years.
(2/n)
This avtar (besha) of deities is special since it occurs in several years.
(2/n)
This avtar of the deities is observed in those special years where the 'Panchaka', last five days of the holy month of 'Kartika' gets an additional sixth day. Last time the 'Nagarjuna Besha' was observed on 16 November 1994. (3/n)
Due to the pandemic, the Shrine has been shut since march, Jagannath devotees will not be allowed to take part in the much waited ritual this time, which falls once in several years. Though the GoI has allowed to reopen religious places with safety measures since June...(4/n)
..But temples across Odisha continues to remain shut. Servitors & Priests of various temples across the state have been staging protests by beating gongs demanding reopening of temples since months, with support from 'Odisha Sevayat Sangh', a state level association. (5/n)
The arguments put forward by the priests are, "if election campaigns which involve large gatherings, meetings can be held then why can't temples be allowed to reopen with safety measures?", which according to me seems genuine & justified. (6/n)
Needless to say, COVID has hit the livelihood of people & Priests, Servitors of various temples are no exception! Closure of temples, Lack of funds coupled with poverty have lead to deaths of several priests in the state... (7/n)
While the Odisha Govt provided allowance to Servitors of Puri Jagannath Temple, the priests of other temples across Odisha are having a tough time making both ends meet for their survival or are dying of penury. (8/n)
Responding to numerous & repeated requests from people to reopen temples, Law Minister of State Govt has assured of an "appropriate" decision after taking stock of COVID situation, although per day cases are declining!
After banning 'Paya Shraddh', 'Pinda Daan', 'Chhath Puja' 9/n
After banning 'Paya Shraddh', 'Pinda Daan', 'Chhath Puja' 9/n
..'Durga Puja', 'Kali Puja' across the state, this unilateral decision by Odisha Govt to not let devotees pray in temples since last 8 months or not let them witness the rare 'Nagarjuna Besha' in lieu of COVID is nothing less than another deliberate attack on our culture!
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