The royal seamsters

The unsung 'Darji' servitors behind Lord Jagannath's eternal service

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Among the various types of traditional services offered to Lord Jagannath at the Shree Jagannath Temple, one of the most essential yet lesser-known is the Darji Seba - the tailor's service. Renowned heritage scholar Surendra Kumar Mishra explains that this service is an indispensable component of temple rituals and has been meticulously preserved for generations.

The tailors serving in this capacity are collectively known as 'Darji Sevaks'. They operate under the leadership of a 'Sardar' (chief), who organises and supervises their tasks, as recorded in Srimandir Record of Rights (RoR). These servitors work according to ancient service rolls (Bedhapatra), with only the Darji chief authorised to tie the ceremonial cloth known as 'Sadhi/Saree'. No other tailor may perform this specific duty.

This is a hereditary service, traditionally passed down within families.