I have been meaning to write this since a long time, but never got around to do so. I visited the Jagannath Puri temple in 2008. It is 4 years now, but the visit remains extremely fresh in my mind. I had heard of crowds at Puri from relatives and friends before. The rudeness, greed and filthy language used by pandas was also indicated at. The advice given to me or rather us(since we were travelling in a group), was that avoid pandas at all costs, even if you have to listen to their entreaties which gradually become threats and end in abuse. This happens especially if there are females in the group, and fortunately or otherwise there was one in our group. As soon as we got down from the vehicle, we were surrounded. There was one guy who said who promised to take a sum which for his guidance. We made it clear that we are not interested in making some special puja(specially priced, if one may add). He agreed but obviously after entering premises, he said that prasad needs to be "bought", else visit is not possible. Needless to say, though we were not interested and wanted to get rid of him, the female of the group, who got a bit emotional with all the flowery language, agreed to buy some 150/- "basket". The puja coupon counter is another mess, manned by a fat scoundrel. Be as it may, after waiting for quite sometime, in which the scoundrel rudely asked the lady to pipe down, the panda came back with a basket. After entering the main temple, he asked each of us to put money as it was some custom. At this point we had enough and asked him to go away, which he did after muttering many things unpleasant. As I was moving along the queue for darshan, the panda thief inside, waved a large basket in front of me and shouted or demanded to put something inside. I said nothing but contented by just glaring at him. He kind of piped down. All in all, it was a filthy experience.
It is sad that a temple and a holy place, where thousands come to pray, seek mental peace, succour, and relief, give their thanks, are treated so shabbily, abused, shoved and made to undergo such pain. Also, it is all the more surprising because the Puri temple's administrative board has some King as a member. Clearly, someone is snoozing. It is high time that the pandas be given the same treatment as thugees were given by the British. One may think that I am over-reacting, but I have decided not enter the temple again until I hear that things have improved. The pandas should realise that they are playing with fire in treating the devotees in this fashion. It is sad that no one is Odisha is interested in improving the situation.
