An error in calendars prepared by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri has sparked concern among temple servitors and scholars after images of the sibling deities were printed in the wrong positions.
Puri Srimandir calendar error draws objections
The discrepancy was detected when people noticed that a Pattachitra-style image placed Lord Balabhadra where Lord Jagannath usually appears, and vice versa. The mistake was found on table calendars, wall calendars and diaries produced by the temple office, which were reportedly prepared at a cost running into lakhs of rupees. Officials had moved to put the calendars on sale before the error came to light.
Servitors, scholars and members of the wider intellectual community voiced strong reservations. Ganesh Mahasuar, a servitor of the Srimandir, said the error had hurt religious sentiments and urged the administration to halt distribution and reprint the materials with the sibling deities in their correct positions. He also noted that one table calendar omitted Lord Sudarshan entirely from the first-page image.
Another concern related to a Rath Yatra photograph included in the publication. Observers said the image showed the chariot of Debi Subhadra being pulled first, followed by the chariot of Lord Jagannath and finally that of Lord Balabhadra, a sequence that differs from traditional representation and added to the unease.
SJTA officials responded to the criticism with a mixture of explanation and instruction. Sarat Mohanty, who said his committee had no role in producing or publicising the calendar, described the error as a human oversight and recommended that further sales be stopped, noting that many copies remained undistributed. He suggested that the finer details of the images may not have been closely examined when senior officials inaugurated the calendar.
SJTA Chief Arabinda Padhee issued a clarification stating the image used was based on a 300–400-year-old palm-leaf painting preserved in the State Museum. He said the picture provided by the artist was placed in the calendar and reflected the artist’s creativity. Padhee’s statement sought to explain the origin of the artwork while acknowledging the sensitivity surrounding temple iconography.
Cultural specialists and servitors argued that the views of temple scholars and researchers should have been consulted before finalising a publication of this scale, particularly because the artworks draw on traditional Pattachitra practices from Raghurajpur and other heritage centres. Some servitors defended the reputation of traditional artists, suggesting that such an error was more likely to have occurred during the reproduction or layout process rather than in the original painting.
Administratively, the matter raises questions about quality control and the chain of approval for materials bearing sacred imagery. Temple sources said the calendars were produced by other departments within the SJTA and that the committee who commented had not been involved. Given the public reaction, officials now face pressure to review production protocols, consult scholars, and ensure corrected copies are issued.
The controversy highlights the importance of careful oversight when reproducing religious art for mass distribution. For now, servitors have sought a swift remedy and a reprint that restores the traditional depictions, while the SJTA has indicated steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Key Takeaways:
- Calendars from the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration contained a Puri Srimandir calendar error with sibling deities printed in swapped positions.
- Servitors and scholars raised objections over religious sensitivity and omission of Lord Sudarshan in some prints.
- SJTA described the image as based on a 300–400-year-old palm-leaf painting and called the issue a human error; officials advised stopping further distribution.
