Pay and Pray!!


Puri: Pitu travels from Lucknow to Puri to visit the majestic Jaganath Dham. As she reaches the spot, she gets stuck by reading ’Only Hindus are allowed’ on the entrance gate. Though, she being a Hindu was permitted to enter the temple premises but the discriminatory direction leave her grief stricken. When she entered the temple gate, a Panda (Priest) dressed in saffron touches her head with peacock feathers and asks for some money. Pitu pays Rs.5 but Panda demanded more. Pitu paid Rs.5 more but he asked for more. Finally Panda was satisfied when he got Rs.50.

As Pitu moved forward, several diya and flower sellers insisted her to purchase those. Sankar, a Panda was continuously convincing her to act as her guide in greed of some money. Pitu refuted but he persuaded. Finally, after yelling at the Panda, Pitu could get rid of him.

Pitu was disappointed by looking at the commercialization of the holy place. After pushing and pulling the crowd, she reached Garbh Griha (the heart of the temple where idols of Lord Jaganath, Balbhadra and Subhadra are installed). Here, the head priest chants slokas, blesses her and demands for money,’Aap apni ischa se 500 rupiye de dijiye.’ When Pitu denied paying such a large amount, the priest blamed her of infringing religious rites (Dharm bhrast).

Pitu moved out in anguish while another Panda offered some ‘prashad’ and asked for Rs.300. She escapes in anointment and was disgusted with the Pandas and their so-called devotion.

If a pilgrim has such a gloomy experience, then the pious Jaganath temple gets a bad name outside. This dismal condition exhibits that Pandas objective of serving the shrine has been substituted by their greed to earn money.

Commercialization of market, educational institutions, fairs and festivals is justified. But, when one finds a spiritual place turning to a commercial venture, it is likely to disturb his/her peace of mind.
               

It’s noteworthy that despite such exploitation by Puja Pandas, the percentage of pilgrims is galloping. As people are ready to pay huge sums to have a glimpse of Lord Jaganath-The savior of World!

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