Puri, Jul 21 : Italian born Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi, who has been awarded Padma Shri, was mahandled by a servitor (daitapati) of Jagannath Temple, when she went for darshan of Lord Jagannath during the recently concluded rath yatra.
Ileana, who has made Bhubaneswar her home for the last 17 years, in a written complaint to the Puri temple administration, alleged that the servitor first demanded Rs 20 as 'dakshina' (donation) for allowing darshan of the deities.
"When I touched the deities in reverence, the daitapati (servitor) demanded Rs 1,000, I refused, he shouted at me saying 'foreigner' and hit on my head angrily in front of Lord Jagannath", she said.
"I was shocked, but I returned after the darshan. I have also heard that one foreigner was also beaten up yesterday. This is not good", said Ileana.
Arabinda Padhi, Jagannath temple administrator and Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Puri, said, the incident was unfortunate and it is being investigated. "I spoke to the servitors and we hope they will cooperate with us in future and such incidents will not be repeated".
Two years back a foreigner was mercilessly beaten by the Puri temple servitors when the person tried to enter the temple.
Puri Jagannath temple is among the few temples in India where only Hindus are allowed and non Hindus are not permitted to enter. Foreign nationals and people from other religions get a chance to watch the deities during the nine-day Rath Yatra only, when it is open house for all.
