Muslim Girl Causes Stir by Taking Male Friend for Mangala Temple Visit

Kakatpur, 18/11 (Tushar Dixit) –
On Monday around 9 AM, a girl named Saimin, daughter of Sheikh Kadir from Swameswar Samil Samia village, entered the Mangala temple premises through the west gate along with a male friend to offer prayers. Upon noticing them, a few temple servitors informed the temple administration. The temple’s Executive Officer Kailash Chandra Dash immediately arrived at the spot and brought both individuals to the temple office. After verifying their Aadhaar cards, it was confirmed that the girl was a non-Hindu.

As with the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri, non-Hindus are strictly prohibited from entering the Mangala Temple. When questioned by the Executive Officer about why she entered the temple despite the restriction, the young woman reportedly admitted her mistake and submitted a written apology to the temple authorities seeking forgiveness.

Following her unauthorized entry, the idol of Maa Mangala was given a ritualistic cleansing (snana-marjana), and the sacred offering (Sankudi Bhoga) was re-sanctified. It was also reported that the young woman paid a fine of ₹5,000 to the temple administration for breaching the rules. The incident has stirred significant discussion and debate in the region.