He stated the incident has deeply hurt the millions of devotees across the globe (File)
Bhubaneswar:
Odisha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik on Thursday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the unfortunate mishap in which Lord Balabhadra slipped on the ‘Charamala’ (makeshift ramp) while being taken in ‘Pahandi’ from his chariot to Gundicha Temple, (Adap Mandap or Yajna Vedi).
The LoP expressed dismay and stated the incident has deeply hurt the millions of devotees across the globe. He said the holy triad is the supreme deity of Odia people and the symbol of Odia Asmita or Odia self-identity.
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅସ୍ମିତାର ପ୍ରତୀକ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଜାତିର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପରିଚୟ। ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ ବଡ଼ ଠାକୁରଙ୍କ ଆଡ଼ପ ମଣ୍ଡପ ପହଣ୍ଡିବେଳେ ଯେଉଁ ଅଘଟଣ ଘଟିଲା, ତାହା ସାରା ବିଶ୍ବର ଜଗନ୍ନାଥପ୍ରେମୀଙ୍କୁ ବ୍ୟଥିତ କରିଛି I ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହି ଅଘଟଣରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମର୍ମାହତ। ଏଭଳି ସ୍ପର୍ଶକାତର ଘଟଣାରେ ରାଜ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମଣ୍ଡଳର କିଛି ସଦସ୍ୟ ଯେଭଳି… pic.twitter.com/oadFKjpYFJ
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 11, 2024
“The incident that happened during His Pahandi this year is unheard of and unparalleled. The sight of Bada Thakura falling face down during Charamala Pahandi was heart-wrenching. Such an unfortunate incident was unheard of during thousands of years of history of the chariot festival. It was impossible for the Jagannatha devotees to believe what they were witnessing live on that day,” wrote Mr Patnaik.
He also took a dig at the statements of the Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida describing the mishap as a minor incident.
“The way some members of the Odisha Cabinet made callus comments about such a sensitive subject has doubled the grief of Jagannatha lovers. The incident has deeply hurt the feelings of all the devotees of the Lord. Such an insensitive approach of the government could not assuage the wounded feelings of Jagannatha Devotees,” added LoP Mr Patnaik.
He also urged the Chief Minister to take personal responsibility himself and ensure that such an incident does not recur.
“I believe your exemplary steps in this direction will help in reassuring crores of devotees of Lord Jagannath,” said Naveen Patnaik.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
