Updated March 18th 2025, 15:22 IST
Orry Drinking Case: The Chief Priest of the Vaishno Devi temple Padma Shri Prof. Vaishva Murti Shastri spoke to the Republic regarding the brazen behaviour of socialite influencer Orry aka Orhan Awatramani. On March 15, the Jammu and Kashmir police filed an FIR against the influencer for consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian food at the hotel where he was staying with his friends. Prof. Shastri has condemned the act and demanded stricter punishments and regulations to be put in place so that such lapse does not occur again.
Speaking to Republic Media Network, Prof. Shastri said, “Vaishno Devi shrine is a pure place. To be under the influence of drugs or alcohol in such a place is prohibited. All officials of the shrine bride have sternly stated that no one is allowed to consume, carry or talk about alcoholic beverages around the shrine. Despite this, if people are carrying alcohol on the premises, then it is a matter of great concern.” He specified that warnings against the consumption of meat and alcoholic beverages were displayed across the shrine, yet it was ignored.
Questioning the lapses in the matter, Prof Shastri added, “The Shrine board does not give any ease in these matters, so it must be understood whose lapse has caused this nuisance. One must go inside the shrine with a clean, pure and devotional mind." He cited examples of temples in Southern India that follow a strict code of conduct and argued, “We should do that here as well. It is time to bring in strict norms for the thousands of devotees who visit the temple. Bringing alcohol near the temple premises destroys the sanctity of the shrine. Things that hurt the sentiments of devotees should be condemned.”
Social media influencer Orry and seven others were booked for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. However, by the time the FIR was lodged, the group had crossed over the Jammu and Kashmir border by road. A notice will be served to him a day or two in this regard.
Get Current Updates on Operation Sindoor Live News along with India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and India Strikes Pakistan Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Published March 17th 2025, 19:54 IST