Bhubaneswar, Jan. 8 -- A prolonged shortage of kasturi (deer musk), a crucial ingredient used in the Banakalagi rituals of the deities at the Srimandir in Odisha's Puri, triggered concern among servitors and Jagannath culture scholars, with fears being raised over the long-term protection of the Sri Anga, the sacred bodies of the Sibling Deities. Datta Mohapatra servitors formally sought the intervention of the Prime Minister, urging immediate action to address the issue.

The matter gained urgency ahead of the first Banakalagi and Srimukha Sringara of the Chaturdhamurti in the New Year. Datta Mohapatra servitors appealed to both the Central and the State governments, pointing out that for several years, there has been an acute shortage o...