Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday clarified that Lord Jagannath’s tahia (floral headgear) was removed during the pahandi ritual of Rath Yatra on Thursday after it became rain-soaked and too heavy. “The Lord was already draped in a raincoat (gilapa) to shield the idol from showers. When the giant tahia grew heavy, servitors feared it might cause difficulty. They then decided to remove the headgear. SJTA had no role in the decision,” chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee said, responding to widespread criticism over the sight of the Lord without the traditional adornment on Rath Yatra.
