Controversies dog Jagannath temple's entry ban rules

The latest such incident took place when an American national attempted to climb 'Nandighosh', the chariot of Lord Jagannath during the world famous "Rath Yatra", the annual car festival of the deity, in June this year in the seaside town.

The American, identified as Noel Magee Hayden, was allegedly beaten up by temple security personnel and driven out of the chariot as he was not a born Hindu.

"This is injustice. When Sri Jagannath is considered as the Lord of the universe, how can anyone deny permission to my husband to climb the chariot like others?" his wife Silpi Boral, who hails from Odisha, expressed surprise.

While the police registred a case in this connection, the Shaknaracharya of Govardhan Peeth in Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati also denounced the manner in which the foreigner was treated by security personnel.

"The foreigner could have been requested not to climb the chariot or enter the temple as he is not an orthodox Hindu. There is no justification in physically assualting him," the Shankaracharya observed.

The assault of the American had reminded people of tales about how a number of dignitaries, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had not been allowed to enter the 12th century shrine.

"In 1984, Indira Gandhi was not allowed to enter the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri because she had married a Persian, Firoze Gandhi," pointed out a priest defending the ban on entry.

Similarly, in 2005 Queen of Thailand Mahachakri Siridharan had come to Odisha but as she was the follower of Buddhism, she was not allowed into the temple, said another temple priest. MORE