TNI Bureau: Amid growing opposition from religious groups and Sanatani organisations, a member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee has urged authorities not to keep the temple open at midnight to mark the English New Year.

Managing committee member Mahesh Kumar Sahoo has written a formal letter to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Odisha government, objecting to the practice of opening the temple during the night of December 31 and January 1. He stated that the practice is against Sanatani traditions and does not align with the age-old religious customs of the shrine.

In his letter, Sahoo said that Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath, revered as the supreme deity of Sanatani Hindus, is worshipped strictly according to rituals prescribed in Sanatan scriptures. He pointed out that January 1 follows the Gregorian calendar and has no religious significance in traditional Hindu practices, making the midnight opening inappropriate.

The committee member noted that the practice was introduced in recent years and has repeatedly drawn objections from religious leaders and organisations. According to him, such protests reflect widespread concern among devotees and custodians of Hindu traditions.

Calling the issue sensitive, Sahoo appealed to SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Arabinda Padhee and Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan to ensure that all daily rituals of the deities are performed strictly as per established traditions. He also urged that the deities should not be kept awake at night to accommodate celebrations linked to the English New Year.

The issue has once again highlighted the ongoing debate between preserving traditional religious practices and accommodating modern customs at the centuries-old Shree Jagannath Temple, one of Hinduism’s most revered pilgrimage sites.