Puri: In a significant development, senior IAS officer Arabinda Kumar Padhee has been appointed as the Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri. This appointment comes as Chief Administrator Veer Vikram Jadav has proceeded on vacation, necessitating Padhee to take on the responsibilities in his absence.
The Odisha government issued a notification on Friday, formalizing Padhee’s appointment to the esteemed position. As per the notification, Padhee will serve as the Chief Administrator until Jadav’s return from vacation.
Assuming his new role, Padhee visited the SJTA office and commenced his duties after seeking blessings from Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. He wasted no time in engaging with SJTA officials to discuss various matters pertaining to the smooth conduct of rituals, including Naba Joubana Darshan, Netra Utsav, and Rath Yatra preparations.
In line with his commitment to ensuring the seamless execution of temple affairs, Padhee made a visit to the Ratha Khala, where he personally inspected the ongoing construction work of the chariots for the upcoming Rath Yatra.
With Padhee’s wealth of administrative experience and dedication to duty, his appointment is expected to bolster the management and administration of the Shree Jagannath Temple, ensuring that sacred rituals and traditions are upheld with utmost reverence and efficiency.