Bhubaneswar, Odisha: The pilgrimage city of Puri continues to draw countless tourists seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. However, the growing menace of fake guides in Puri and fake servitors (Gumastas) has turned into a major headache for the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Puri district administration. In a shocking incident, police uncovered a fake Gumasta racket operating in the holy town.
These groups cheat unsuspecting tourists by claiming to facilitate the darshan of the holy trinity. The issue has sparked heated discussions across the city and raised serious questions about the temple’s security and management. Every day, thousands of devotees flock to Puri to seek the divine blessings of Lord Jagannatha and his sibling deities.
Taking advantage of the massive footfall, some miscreants pose as official temple guides (Gumastas) to exploit devotees. They promise an easy and smooth darshan of Lord Jagannatha. They then demand money and vanish after escorting devotees only up to the regular queues. Many pilgrims face problems, including losing their belongings while struggling to glimpse the holy trinity. Some manage to complete their darshan, but others leave with a bitter experience.
The fake Gumasta racket thrives around the Jagannath Temple premises and near all four gates. Fraudsters dressed in traditional dhotis and carrying fake identity cards deceive visitors by politely offering VIP darshan. They lead devotees through narrow lanes or side gates under the pretext of special entry, collect money, and disappear into the crowd. This growing scam continues to damage the temple’s reputation and the city’s heritage image.
Although several devotees hesitate to report the incidents, many have already lodged FIRs. The SJTA Chief Administrator promised strict action against anyone caught cheating pilgrims.
Senior servitors have also urged the administration to take exemplary action against fake Gumastas. This is necessary to protect Puri’s global reputation as a heritage city and uphold devotees’ faith in the sacred shrine.
