Law Minister confirms ‘Pratikar Puja’ for Lord Balabhadra’s Adapa Mandap mishap

Bhubaneswar, Aug 31: Describing the incident during the Adapa Mandap Bije ritual of Lord Balabhadra at Puri's Rath Yatra as an accident, Law Minister Pritivhraj Harichandan announced on Saturday that the Odisha government will conduct a ‘Pratikar Puja’ (remedial ritual) in response to the mishap. He mentioned that discussions have been held with the Mukti Mandap pundits regarding the decision, and they will thoroughly review the situation before deciding on the timing of the puja.

The Minister emphasized that while Lord Balabhadra’s idol did slip during the Adapa Mandap Pahandi, it did not fall to the ground. The idol remained supported by the shoulders of the servitors. An investigation into the incident revealed that the mishap occurred due to negligence, and steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Harichandan also noted that an important meeting of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee was held on Friday. The final report from the probe into the Adapa Mandap mishap is still pending, and appropriate actions will be taken once the full report is received.

To recall, on the night of July 9, the idol of Lord Balabhadra slipped during the Pahandi procession to the Adapa Mandap inside Gundicha Temple, resulting in injuries to several servitors. Following the incident, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) formed a three-member committee, including the ADM, the Administrator (Development), and a DSP-rank officer, to investigate the matter.