Queue Darshan System At Jagannath Temple From New Year Day

BHUBANESWAR: Starting the New Year, devotees visiting the Puri Jagannath temple can expect new arrangements for darshan of the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and goddess Subhadra.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is installing elevated ramps in Natamandap, the dance hall facing the sanctum sanctorum, to provide devotees with better visibility of the deities. Dry run for the new arrangements will be conducted on Dec 30 and 31, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Sunday.

"We will install six rows of collapsible wooden barricades with ramp systems in Natamandap to facilitate orderly movement of pilgrims. The Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited (OBCC) has committed to completing the installation by year-end, enabling the launch of new darshan arrangements from January 1," the temple's Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said.

These dedicated barricades will provide separate pathways for men, women, senior citizens, and differently-abled devotees.

The administration said that the project implementation is being coordinated with the Archaeological Survey of India to preserve the temple's architectural heritage and structural integrity. The installation work will not interfere with daily rituals, SJTA sources stated, adding that the ongoing repair work of the Ratna Bhandar will remain unaffected.

The temple administration has requested police assistance to manage crowds in Natamandap for efficient movement through the barricades.