Claim
President Droupadi Murmu not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in Delhi.

Fact
It was the President’s decision to take darshan from outside and the temple trust had not barred her from entering the sanctum sanctorum.

Several social media users are circulating a set of images, claiming that President Droupadi Murmu was not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Jagannath Temple in Delhi, while Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was allowed.

 The archived versions of the tweets can be seen here and here.

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Fact Check

Newschecker ran a reverse image search of the two photos, which led us to tweets from the President, dated June 20, 2023, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, dated July 12, 2021, about them visiting the temple on the occasion of Rath Yatra.

Newschecker then contacted the President’s Secretariat, who said that it was the President’s decision to take darshan from outside. The President has been a devotee of Lord Jagannath since childhood, said the secretariat.

We then contacted the Shree Neelachal Seva Sangha, the organiser of the Jagannath Temple in Hauz Khas, Delhi, who said that the President had visited the temple in the morning on the occasion of her birthday. Keeping in mind the crowd during the Rath Yatra and for security reasons, the President herself had decided to visit the temple in the morning and take darshan from outside, the organiser said, adding that there was not much publicity for the visit.

We learnt that apart from the Chhera Pahanra — mopping or sweeping of the chariot platform — ritual, all devotees take darshan from outside. When asked about the picture of Ashwini Vaishnav, the organiser said the picture is during the Chhera Pahanra ritual, while adding that the President had not come for the rituals, but just for darshan.

We then came across this tweet by Sandip Sahu, author of “Madam President”, a biography of the president, dated June 26, 2023.

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Conclusion

Viral images claimed to show that President Droupadi Murmu was barred from entering the sanctum sanctorum of Jagannath Temple in Delhi is misleading.

Result: Partly False

Sources
Newschecker’s telephonic conversation with President’s office
Newschecker’s telephonic conversation with Sree Neelachala Seva Sangha officials

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