Puri:
"I never expected this from priests," Italy-born Odishi danseuse Ileana Citaristi told NDTV, still in shock a day after she was allegedly manhandled during the famous Lord Jagannath procession.
The Padma Shri award-winner had on Sunday filed a complaint with the Puri temple authorities alleging that she was beaten on the chariot of Lord Jagannath for "refusing to pay money for a sighting of the deity".
Speaking to NDTV, Ms Citaristi said: "I have been in Odisha for 33 years. Violence is the last thing I would have expected in a place like this."
Ms Citaristi alleged in her complaint that she and one of her woman pupils had climbed onto the chariot by paying Rs 20 to a priest. But when the two women tried to approach the statue, a priest demanded Rs 1,000 each from them.
"When I ignored them, they started shouting: America! Foreigner," said the Italian settled in Odisha.
The dancer said this was not an isolated incident, and it was not just foreigners who were targeted like this.
The temple police say they are investigating the incident and will refer it to the state police after a preliminary report.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, a Jagannath Yatra organizer, Ramachandra Dasmahapatra said: "We have no right to beat any devotee. I apologise for the unsavory episode".
As per temple practice, foreigners are not allowed to be on the chariots of Lord Jagannath and other dieties during the annual Rathyatra festival.
But the temple administration has been debating opening its doors to all, irrespective of their caste, religion or nationality. As the matter remained unresolved, the temple has maintained status-quo, which meant no foreigner was allowed to climb the chariots and touch the statues.