Bhubaneswar: Puri police have launched an investigation against an online platform for allegedly selling women’s apparel emblazoned with images of Lord Jagannath and Rath Yatra chariots in a manner that appeared disrespectful, sparking outrage among servitors over the misuse of sacred symbols.
“We are gathering details about the e-commerce platform and will issue a notice to its owner to appear for questioning,” said an officer of Singhadwar police station.
The action followed a complaint lodged by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) with the temple police on Saturday. A case has been registered under Section 299 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (hurting religious feelings).
According to the complaint filed by SJTA’s officer on special duty (security), Hemanta Kumar Padhi, the online company hurt devotees’ sentiments by advertising sarees and clothes featuring images of Lord Jagannath and chariots in a manner that appeared disrespectful.
“The depiction of deities on sarees in such a way that the images touch the feet of women wearing them has deeply offended devotees,” the complaint stated.
Padhi further urged, “Necessary steps should be taken to remove such prints of Shree Jagannath Temple deities and initiate legal action as deemed proper.”
Servitors voiced concern over repeated instances of sacrilege. “From online units illegally selling Mahaprasad to apparel depicting deities in a disrespectful way — such blasphemous acts will only stop if police take exemplary action,” said servitor Shyama Mohapatra.
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About the Author: Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He had been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law & order and Congress.
