In a puzzling turn of events that has jolted devotees, a fresh controversy has surfaced at the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
At the heart of the storm is the disappearance of 70 specially prepared amuniya modaks—sweet offerings integral to the sacred Dasamula ritual dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
The sacred confections, crafted by the temple’s Rajvaidyas and secured in the garada ghara under tight watch, reportedly went missing just before the offering ceremony on June 21. The incident was first brought to light by Haldhar Dasmahapatra, the Badagrahi of Lord Balabhadra, who has since demanded an inquiry into what he calls an “unforgivable breach of divine protocol.”
“What happened to the modaks? How can a holy offering vanish inside a fortified chamber guarded by temple authorities?” Dasmahapatra questioned in a letter addressed to the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA).
What has added fuel to the fire is the subsequent use of the remaining mara modaks in the ritual ceremony despite concerns over their sanctity. So far, there has been no formal statement from the SJTA, a silence that is drawing public ire and raising deeper questions about administrative accountability and transparency.
Sudarsan Pattnaik, former member of the temple’s managing committee, called the development “shocking and unacceptable.” “This is more than a theft—it’s a disruption of trust. Action must follow words,” he said, urging for a thorough investigation before the upcoming Rath Yatra.
With no official clarity and heightened public sensitivity, the episode has once again thrown the spotlight on Srimandir’s internal security and ritual integrity. Devotees are now demanding nothing less than truth and accountability—before faith itself begins to erode.
