Priest serves Puri's Jagannath temple 'Mahaprasad' on dining table. Viral video sparks row

The incident reportedly happened at a resort in Puri. (Image credit: @princess_sradha/X)

A video circulating online showing a priest serving Puri Jagannath temple's "Mahaprasad" to a family seated at a dining table has triggered outrage, especially in Odisha. The act is considered a breach of the temple's long-standing traditions since the Mahaprasad, the holy offering to Lord Jagannath of the 12th-century temple, is customarily served and consumed while seated on the ground.

The footage, reportedly filmed at a beach resort in Puri, shows at least 10 family members, including children, gathered around a dining table as a priest served them the Mahaprasad.

.. ? Mahaprasad
(@princess_sradha) May 16, 2025

In the clip, an unidentified man is seen questioning the family's choice to eat the Mahaprasad at a table. A woman in the group is heard asserting that they had inquired before deciding on this arrangement. The man then turned his attention to the priest, demanding an explanation for his complicity.

The now-viral video has triggered widespread concern and condemnation among devotees of Lord Jagannath. Responding to the escalating controversy, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) issued a statement emphasizing that consuming the Mahaprasad at a dining table is contrary to established customs. It also admitted that the act "against tradition" and had elicited a "reaction" from devotees. The temple administration underscored the sanctity of the Mahaprasad, referring to it as divine and reiterating the centuries-old ritual of consuming it while seated on the ground.

"It is clarified from the side of the temple that the divine Mahaprasad of the Lord is worshiped in the form of Annabrahma. The ritual tradition of eating Mahaprasad sitting on the ground has existed since time immemorial. Therefore, all devotees are humbly requested to refrain from the activities that are against the tradition, like eating Mahaprasad at the dining table," the temple administration stated.

Acknowledging the strong local sentiments and religious beliefs surrounding the tradition, they also appealed to hotels in Puri to caution their guests against such practices.