PURI: Facing a renewed menace of rats and cockroaches inside the Jagannath Temple’s sanctum sanctorum, authorities at the 12th-century shrine have turned to traditional pest-control methods that involve trapping the creatures alive and releasing them outside, in keeping with temple rules that prohibit the killing of any animal or insect on the premises.Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, who recently chaired a meeting on the issue, said the problem of rodents inside the ancient shrine was not new.“The problem became acute during the Covid-19 pandemic when the number of devotees was less. Traditional pest control methods were used in 2023… but the numbers have surged again, and similar measures will be taken again,” Padhee said.Puri collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, who is also the deputy chief administrator of the SJTA, said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had been consulted on the issue.As part of the measures, earthen pots coated with jaggery and other sticky substances have been placed inside the sanctum sanctorum to attract and trap cockroaches. Authorities are also blocking the routes used by rats and cockroaches to enter the Garbha Gruha.The rodents have reportedly been damaging flowers offered to the deities and gnawing at valuable temple attires.However, authorities cannot use poisonous substances or toxic sprays, as the temple’s rules prohibit taking the life of any living creature within its premises. The concern is that pests could die inside the shrine if chemical methods are used.Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher of Jagannath culture, said the temple’s records of rights lay down specific provisions for dealing with animals such as rodents, bats and monkeys.“Though rodents create a nuisance inside the ‘Garbha Gruha’ (sanctum sanctorum), servitors are not permitted to kill animals or poison them inside the temple,” Mishra said.He added that some animals have lived on the temple premises for generations because of the availability of leftover Mahaprasad. Under the temple’s records of rights, designated servitors are responsible for catching rodents alive and releasing them outside the premises.
