Shankaracharya refuses to climb chariots

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar/Puri, June 28: In a major development, Puri Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati on Saturday said he will not climb the chariots during Rath Yatra on Sunday as he had been asked to go alone.The Shankaracharya told media persons in Puri that he had been asked to climb the chariots without his disciples.The sheer clarified that the volunteers of Aditya Bahini headed by him will also not participate in Rath Yatra this year.Earlier in the day, Shankaracharya had requested the Naveen Patnaik Government to make security arrangements during his customary visit to the chariots before the pulling the chariots, apparently anticipating trouble from the Daitapatis, a section of the servitors who were aggrieved over his suggestions.The State Government promptly responded to the Shankaracharya’s demand and said it would take appropriate steps.Every year, the Shankaracharya used to climb the chariots and worship the deities before the devotees pulled the chariots on the Grand Road in Puri from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple.The Shankaracharya had got involved in the chariot climbing controversy after he gave suggestions that the devotees should not be allowed to climb the chariots and touch the deities during the festival.Meanwhile, the process continued for Sunday’s Rath Yatra as the chariots were pulled from the construction site to the place in front of the Sri Jagannath temple.