Mahaprasad Row / Sacred Mahaprasad trade sparks concern among devotees and servitors

Puri, Nov 9: Concerns are mounting over the alleged unauthorised sale of Mahaprasad outside the Jagannath Temple in Puri during the holy month of Kartika.

Devotees, intellectuals and servitors have expressed displeasure over what they describe as an insult to the sanctity and traditions associated with Lord Jagannath's Mahaprasad.

The controversy comes months after a debate surrounding the online sale of Mahaprasad. This time, attention has shifted to the area near the temple's North Gate, where middlemen are allegedly purchasing Mahaprasad from inside the temple premises and reselling it to devotees at inflated prices.

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According to reports, several individuals, who are neither authorised servitors nor officially appointed representatives of the Suara Mahasuara Nijog, have been seen procuring Mahaprasad, including Abadha, dal and besara, from Ananda Bazaar and selling it outside the temple.

Taking advantage of heavy pilgrim footfall during Kartika, these individuals are reportedly charging arbitrary prices, bypassing the traditional system of Mahaprasad distribution.

The practice has triggered criticism from sections of the servitor community and devotees, who argue that it undermines the age-old traditions of Ananda Bazaar, the designated marketplace for Mahaprasad inside the temple complex.

Many have questioned why repeated efforts to streamline Mahaprasad sales have failed to eliminate the growing involvement of middlemen.

The issue reportedly came to the notice of the Suara Mahasuara Nijog during Diwali Amavasya. Following this, the Nijog is said to have warned those involved and directed them to refrain from unauthorised Mahaprasad sales. However, concerns remain over continued violations and the lack of a lasting solution.

Proposals such as setting up authorised Mahaprasad counters near the North Gate and displaying fixed price lists have been discussed in the past, but implementation has remained pending. As a result, devotees continue to face confusion over pricing and authenticity.