Don’t Partake Shreemandir Mahaprasad On Dining Table

Puri: A video of a family partaking the Mahaprasad of the Puri’s  ShriJagannath Mandir, on the dining table, has triggered a huge controversy in Odisha. The Mahaprasad is the holy food offered to Lord Jagannath, the deity of the 12th-century shrine, and has been traditionally served and consumed while sitting on the floor.

At least 10 family members, including children, were seen at the dining table at a beach resort in Puri while a priest was serving them the Mahaprasad.

When a man confronted them, a woman said that they had asked before deciding to consume it at the table. The unidentified man then turned to the priest and demanded to know why he allowed it, the video showed.

Meanwhile, taking to social media account X (earlier known as Twitter), the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration ( SJTA) said that Mahaprasad is not just food, but a divine offering known as ‘Annabrahma’, considered to be a sanctified substance after being offered to Lord Jagannath. The long-standing tradition, which dates back centuries, states that Mahaprasad should be consumed while sitting on the ground, as a sign of respect and humility.

The temple administration urges all the devotees to uphold this time-honored practice and avoid consuming Mahaprasad at dining tables.

Moreover, the SJTA also urged hotels and restaurants to be mindful of this cultural and spiritual tradition and make their customers aware and abide by it.