Rats posing threat to Puri shrine, say servitors; admn denies claim

BHUBANESWAR: The famous Jagannath temple in Puri has been invaded by hordes of rodents, nibbling the attires of sibling gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and devi Subhadra- worrying shrine officials, who have raised an alarm.
The servitors said the imminent threat to the sanctum sanctorum and the wooden idols of the deities from rodents must be looked at seriously.
"We have been annoyed over the rodent menace in the shrine's sanctum sanctorum. We find it difficult to perform rituals amid the rodents and their wastes. Every day, they are destroying the attires and garlands of the deities. Besides, the rats have been spoiling the faces of the deities," said Satyanarayan Puspalak, a servitor.
Bhagaban Panda, another servitor, said small burrows were spotted in between the gaps of stones on the floor which may pose threat to the sanctum sanctorum's structure. "If the temple administration does not address the issue, the rodents would one day cause damage to the wooden idols," Panda said.
The population of rats and cockroaches exploded in the temple during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 during which the shrine was closed for devotees for several months.
Since devotees were stopped from entering the temple for many months, the rodents had a free run due to little movement of people. They have been climbing the idols and Ratna Singhasan, the elevated pedestal where the deities have been placed during puja and offering of bhog," Rajguru, another servitor said.
The temple administration said they were aware of the problem. "We are alert to the issue and taking preventive measures to get rid of the rats. As a temporary measure, we are laying traps. The trapped ones are being released far away from the shrine outside. We are not using rat poison at all," Jitendra Sahoo, temple administrator (rituals).
Another temple official said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would be informed about the issue.
"We suspect rats are entering the temple through some drainage channels. The ASI would be requested to trace holes or gaps on the floor or walls, if any," the official added.