Puri Jagannath Temple Calendar Row: What Went Wrong in Deity Image?

Authorities at the Jagannath Temple on Wednesday apologised to devotees and halted the sale of calendars after an image showed the sibling deities in incorrect positions on the Ratna Singhasan, the bejewelled throne inside the 12th-century shrine.The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) said the disputed image appeared in its 2026 calendar and was based on a century-old artwork from a palm-leaf manuscript preserved at the Odisha State Museum. The administration said the image was reproduced from historical material and the error was unintentional.“This is the work of a painter of that time. It is hoped that Shree Jagannath lovers will not misunderstand it,” the SJTA said in a statement, as quoted by PTI. The issue sparked widespread

criticism after devotees noticed that the deities, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, were shown in positions that do not conform to temple tradition. The temple’s chief administrator directed officials to immediately suspend the sale of the calendars and issue a public apology, the SJTA said.

Opposition parties criticised the administration over the lapse. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) described the depiction as “extremely unfortunate,” saying the image reversed the traditional placement of the deities on the Ratna Singhasan.“In the illustrations, Lord Balabhadra has been placed in the position of Lord Jagannath, while Lord Jagannath appears in Balabhadra’s position,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty told reporters. He said this resulted in Devi Subhadra being shown with Lord Jagannath on her right and Lord Balabhadra on her left, which he said was contrary to long-standing tradition.Mohanty said the image had reportedly been printed on table and wall calendars, as well as diaries released by the temple administration. He also alleged that the SJTA did not consult scholars or cultural experts before using the old artwork.“Such mistakes reflect a lack of sensitivity towards Shree Jagannath culture and Odia Asmita,” he said.The BJD further claimed that the calendar also showed the chariots in the wrong order for the annual Rath Yatra festival. According to tradition, Lord Balabhadra’s chariot leads, followed by Devi Subhadra’s, with Lord Jagannath’s chariot last, the party said.

The Congress also criticised the SJTA and the BJP-led state government. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das said in a post on X that inaccuracies in the calendar were “deeply disturbing” and hurt Odisha’s cultural and spiritual identity.