PURI, INDIA, September 5, 2001: Puri’s temple priests have opposed the Orissa Tourism Department’s proposal to build a watch-tower outside the Jagannath temple to help non-Hindus get a glimpse of the 13th century structure. Ipsit Pratihari, president, Sri Jagannath Sevayat Kalyan Parishad, said: ”This move will endanger the security of the temple and so should not be allowed.” A marble plaque outside the lion’s gate says that only orthodox Hindus are allowed in. The tourism authorities had hit on the idea to build a 45-ft tower outside the temple’s singhadwar (lion’s gate) to attract tourists. The proposed tower would help tourists see the sprawling complex clearly, though the three deities in the sanctum sanctorum would be out of sight. Pratihari said: ”If any attempt is made to turn the temple into a tourist attraction just to earn foreign exchange, it would hurt Hindus’ religious sentiments.” Pratihari would have no non-Hindu tourists visit the shrine because it is not a tourist attraction. ”If anyone from another religion is interested to have a darshan of the deities, he or she could do it during the rathyatra when they are taken outside the shrine,” he said.
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