07/06/2025
This is a real video of my wife and me.
I don’t even know who recorded it, but the video is authentic. What saddens me the most is not the video itself, but the heartbreaking situation we had to go through at the sacred Puri Jagannath Temple.
The current discipline and management at the temple have become extremely poor and disorganized. My only fault was that I was desperate to have the darshan of Lord Jagannath — the Lord I have worshipped with my whole heart. For three consecutive days, I went to the temple with hope and devotion, only to return without darshan because of poor crowd management and lack of support from the administration.
On the third day, when the same chaos happened again, I politely and humbly requested the police officers on duty to allow us to have darshan. In response, instead of helping, the police guard indirectly communicated through temple priests and servitors (pujari and sebayats) that we would need to pay ₹50 to be let in.
When I questioned this unfair demand and asked for an explanation, the officer began misusing his authority. He behaved in a disrespectful and arrogant manner — and what hurt me the most was that in front of my little daughter, I was dragged and humiliated. It was one of the most painful moments of my life.
This is the first time something like this has happened to me at any pilgrimage site. It has left me emotionally broken.
My humble request to the Odisha Government:
Jagannath Dham is one of the Char Dhams of India and a deeply sacred place where lakhs of devotees come from all over the country. What happened to me should not happen to any other devotee. I urge you to look into this issue seriously and take the necessary steps to bring back order, transparency, and dignity to this holy temple.
Let us ensure that every devotee, regardless of status or wealth, is treated with respect and allowed to see the Lord without discrimination.
Jai Jagannath.
