Bhubaneswar, May 29: The Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA) Deputy Chief Administrator and Puri Collector, Dibya Jyoti Parida, on Saturday appealed to the public to act responsibly and avoid sharing unverified or misleading information about the revered Jagannath Temple. His statement came in response to a viral video posted by social media influencer and journalist Shubhankar Mishra, whose comments on temple traditions triggered widespread debate.

Collector Parida informed that the SJTA subcommittee has thoroughly reviewed the matter and is prepared to take stringent action against anyone disseminating incorrect narratives that distort Jagannath culture. He urged citizens and influencers to verify facts through authoritative sources before making public claims, emphasizing the need to preserve the sanctity and historical integrity of the shrine.

The controversy stemmed from Mishra’s assertions that unmarried couples visiting the Jagannath Temple together would face relationship issues or be unable to marry, attributing this to a supposed ‘curse’ of Goddess Radharani. He linked the so-called curse to a mythological episode where Radharani was allegedly stopped from entering the sanctum to meet Lord Jagannath. Temple authorities, however, clarified that such claims are baseless and urged people not to believe or spread such misinformation.

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