Dalits to oppose temple tradition to worship Jagannath

Bhubaneswar, Nov 1 (UNI) In a show of strength hundreds of dalits have decided to break the age old tradition of Keredagada Jagannath temple in Coastal Kendrapada district and enter the temple en mass on November 19.

About 500 dalits of Keredagada village under Rajnagar tahasils, have been debarred to enter the temple to offer worship, since its inception in 18th century AD by the then Kanika king.

As per the age old tradition and custom enforced by the Kanika king, who built the temple, the dalit community of the locality could not worship lord Jagannath by entering the temple.

They, however, used to worship outside the main temple and one of the priest of the temple offered them the prasad.

The trouble started since last year when some dalit youths and later some women tried to force their entry into the temple.

The temple sevayats prevented their entry and later imposed a fine of Rs 1000 for violating the age old custom. Since then the dalits are up in arms to break the age old tradition of the temple and force their entry to worship the lord.

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