The alleged attack on eminent Odissi danseuse Padmashree Ileana Citarist by two priests of Jagannath temple, Puri, and her subsequent complaint lodged with the local police, has visibly enraged the priests of the shrine who on Friday threatened not to allow any foreign national to see the deity on the chariot in the future.
“It is because of Ileana, foreign nationals who were allowed to see Lord Jagannath on the chariot during the nine-day car festival, will be barred from this opportunity in future,” Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the ‘Badagrahi’ (chief priest) of Lord Jagannath temple, said in Puri.
Referring to Ileana’s allegation of assault, Mr Mohapatra said it was a minor incident which was blown out of proportion.
“As the customary offering and puja were going on when she climbed up the chariot, the priests barred her from going near the idol. The assault on the artiste charge is false,” he claimed. Ileana, however, in her complaint said she was hit on head by two priests for refusing to pay `1,000 to see the deity from a close distance.