Modak Theft Row Hits Puri Temple Ahead of Rath Yatra

Puri: Just days before the annual Rath Yatra, a controversy has erupted at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri over the alleged theft of sacred medicinal offerings meant for Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

According to reports, 313 dashamula modaks—a traditional Ayurvedic preparation provided by the temple’s Rajvaidya—were stored in the garada ghara (herbal medicine room) of the Srimandir. These modaks are crucial offerings during the Anasara period, a fortnight when the deities are believed to fall ill following the ceremonial Snana Purnima bath and are kept out of public view for recovery.

However, during the Anabasara Ekadashi ritual held on the night of June 21, it was discovered that 70 modaks were missing from the lot. The discrepancy came to light when Haladhar Das Mohapatra, the badagrahi (ritual guardian) of Lord Balabhadra, noticed the shortage.

In a formal complaint to the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Mohapatra questioned how rituals proceeded despite the missing items. He raised serious concerns about the sanctity and management of temple rituals, especially so close to one of Odisha’s biggest religious festivals.

As of now, the SJTA has not issued an official statement on the incident. With the Rath Yatra scheduled to begin in just two days, the issue has sparked widespread concern among devotees and temple authorities alike regarding the preservation and integrity of sacred traditions.