Puri: In an unprecedented incident in the annals of the Jagannath temple in this pilgrim town of Odisha, miscreants have destroyed at least 40 'chulhas' (earthen ovens) in its grand kitchen, the authorities said.
Temple administrator AK Jena said an investigation into the vandalism at the kitchen, where Mahaprasad is prepared for the lord, will be conducted and miscreants prosecuted.
Suar Mahasuar Nijog (association of cooks) President Narayan Mahasuar said the kitchen was cleaned and locked on Saturday night after Sanj dhoopa (dinner) was cooked and taken for offering to deities.
On Sunday morning when the kitchen was opened, they found at least 40 chulhas were damaged. He demanded a thorough probe into the incident and the immediate arrest of the culprits.
Collector Samarth Verma and Jena, along with police, visited the kitchen. After carrying out repairs, some ovens functioned and bhog (food offering to God) was prepared for deities and devotees.
There are about 240 chulhas in the temple kitchen where cooks used to prepare bhog for lakhs of devotees every day. This is the country's largest kitchen.
Residents have questioned how the incident could happen despite the temple remaining under round-the-clock security provided by the police and the temple's own security personnel, besides CCTV surveillance.
The temple authorities have grilled four servitors in this regard, informed Jena.
No formal complaint has been filed with the lions gate police station till the filling of this report. (UNI)