Incident During Pahandi Ritual Sparks Concern and Political Debate in Odisha

During the ‘Pahandi’ ritual, a mishap occurred when well-built servitors failed to manage the deities. The servitors at the front couldn’t hold the deity, and those at the back struggled to pull the rope properly. As a result, the idol slipped from the makeshift ramp, ‘Charamala’, and fell onto the servitors.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed sorrow over the incident and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured servitors. He instructed Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan to visit Puri and assess the situation. Law Minister Harichandan reassured the public, stating that most of the injured have resumed their duties after receiving first aid. Of the three still undergoing treatment, two are doing well, and the third is expected to recover soon. He encouraged everyone to consider the incident as the ‘leela’ of ‘Mahaprabhu’.

Senior servitor Damodar Padhani acknowledged the mishap, suggesting that the fault of the servitors couldn’t be ruled out. He emphasized the need for better training for the ‘Pahandi’ ritual, which involves carrying the deities on the uneven ‘Charamala’ surface. Padhani recommended creating a list of trained servitors and appointing a leader for each deity to guide the others.

In the aftermath of the incident, rescue personnel, along with other servitors, promptly picked up the idol, and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The incident has sparked political debates in Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s swift directive to Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida to visit Puri and assess the situation is being viewed by some as an attempt to manage the political fallout. Opposition parties are criticizing the government’s handling of the ritual, suggesting that inadequate training and preparation of the servitors reflect poorly on the administration.

The politicization of the incident highlights the broader tensions and challenges in managing religious events in the state. As leaders navigate the aftermath, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and proper conduct of future rituals while addressing the concerns raised by this unfortunate incident.