Bhubaneswar/Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, on Wednesday suspended a servitor for his alleged unruly conduct and indiscipline during the inventory of valuables inside the Ratna Bhandar the previous evening.“Bhandar Mekap servitor, Kishan Mekap, has been suspended from all seva and puja duties until further orders,” an SJTA official said.According to temple sources, Kishan allegedly engaged in a heated argument with one of his family members over entry into the Ratna Bhandar on Tuesday evening.The verbal spat that took place inside the Ratna Bhandar reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation in the presence of shrine officials, prompting immediate intervention by senior administrators to restore order.SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee clarified that the dispute was personal in nature and did not affect the ongoing inventory process.“The scuffle was an unfortunate personal matter between two servitors. I want to assure devotees that the inventory work inside the Ratna Bhandar continued smoothly and without disruption,” Padhee said.He expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably.“We expect the servitors involved to settle their differences through mutual discussion. Discipline inside the shrine is paramount, and any breach will be dealt with firmly,” Padhee added.Kishan’s suspension has once again highlighted the challenges faced by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration in maintaining order and discipline among its servitors.The controversy represents just one instance in a series of incidents that have raised questions about servitors’ conduct at this 12th century shrine.At the heart of Jagannath temple’s daily operations are about 2,200 servitors who maintain centuries-old traditions through their hereditary services. While some of them have services to offer daily, there are others, who perform their sacred duty on some specific days in a year.On April 29, a dispute between two servitors completely disrupted the Chandan Yatra’s eighth day rituals at the sacred Narendra pond, stalling the divine boat ride of the representative deities of the shrine.Earlier on April 23, a servitor was suspended and barred from entering the temple following his arrest for allegedly committing a crime against a woman.On March 14, a servitor was suspended for three months after unruly conduct with fellow servitors, which had caused several hours of ritual delays on Feb 28.“Despite their crucial role in preserving ancient traditions, the temple has faced recurring issues with servitors’ conduct,” said Binayak Mishra, a devotee.
