Jagannath Temple Ponders Entrance Policy

December 2, 2005

BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, November 25, 2005: Will January 2006 bring cheer to the

Hindus, Buddhists and Jains of foreign origin by opening the doors of Shri

Jagannath Temple along with several other Hindu places of worship, which

have so far been out of bounds for them? Well, it just might. For, all those

who have a say in the matter are set to assemble at Muktimandap of Shri

Jagannath Temple and take a decision on the centuries-old tradition. As a

heated debate rages whether to or not to allow Hindus, Buddhists and Jains

of foreign origin into the Hindu temples, most particularly the 12th Century

Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati is

expected to convene a meeting with the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Sevayats

(servitors), temple administration and the Government representatives to

discuss the issue by December-end. Sources close to Shankaracharya, who is

on a religious trip outside the State, said, he is aware of the development

and is keen to sort it out in consultation with the stake-holders. "He will

return to Puri by the last week of December and would initiate the

discussions immediately,'' sources said emphatically. The move of the

Shankaracharya assumes significance as he heads Muktimandap, which is the

apex decision-making body of the temple and whose verdict is also accepted

by other Hindu temples and places of worship. Even Hindu organizations like

Vishwa Hindu Parishad have called for relaxation of the tradition and

allowing Hindus, Buddhists and Jains of non-Indian origin to enter the

Jagannath Temple.

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