The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
PURI, JAN 08, 2024
The Shree Mandir Parikrama at the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri will open for devotees on January 17, marking the successful completion of the first phase of the Temple Transformation Project.
The inauguration will consecrate a 75-metre corridor around the Meghanada Pacheri, the temple’s outer compound wall. This will address challenges faced by devotees during parikrama due to space constraints.
The project will be dedicated to the nation by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The ceremonies will start on January 12 and conclude on January 17. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb will be the Karta for the ceremony. During the inauguration, Vedanga pandits will chant mantras at four gates – Singhadwar, Hastidwar, Vyaghradwar and Ashwadwar – of the temple. Priests, saints and religious leaders from all parts of the country will come to join the inauguration. Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati will be a special attendee at the place of yajna.
Commenting on this development, Puri Collector Samarth Verma said, “The inauguration of the Shree Mandir Parikrama at the Lord Jagannath Mandir is a celebration of the timeless heritage and spiritual magnificence of the Shree Mandir. The inauguration ceremony will allow the world to witness this grand amalgamation of tradition and modernity and foster a deeper spiritual connection for devotees across the globe. The Parikrama is not just an upgrade of the infrastructure around the temple but signifies a renaissance of our faith and devotion to Lord Jagannath. Through the Temple Transformation Project, we will enhance the experience for the devotees of the Lord, while preserving the sanctity and cultural ethos of this sacred site. Great care has been taken to see that the renovation or revival work preserves the rich temple heritage and architecture.”
The project seeks to greatly improve the experience for devotees at the 12th-century shrine in Puri, a central symbol of Odia pride.
The Temple Transformation Project, with a budget of Rs 800 crore, includes the development of the temple precinct, a mega reception center, cultural center, library, Jagannath Ballav pilgrim center, and multi-level car parking. All the new construction being done is following Kalingan Architectural style using Khondalite stone, same as the Shree Jagannath Temple.
The Pradakshina paths around the Meghanada Pacheri will provide a clear view of the temple during circumambulation, enhancing the holy experience. Under this project an inner parikrama, a garden, and an outer parikrama has been constructed, providing ample space for peaceful prayer. Plants for the garden area have been carefully chosen as flowers from them will be used in the temple for worshipping purposes.
Safety and security around the temple has been given an uplift. A 75-metre buffer has been created for this. This has also solved many space related constraints. It will also fit around 1 lakh people to see the Suna Besha, an important ritual at the end of Rath Yatra. Earlier, only a few thousand people could fit in the temple to experience this. To allow over 20,000 devotees to witness flag change, an amphitheatre has been constructed.
The project ensures the elimination of congestion, creating open spaces for easier movement around the sacred site. Notably, all those who are residing around the temple for commercial or residential purposes have been relocated successfully.
A significant change made under this project is the revamped travel route. Previously, reaching Shree Jagannath Temple involved a 30 to 35-minute journey, navigating through half of Puri and facing traffic jams. Now, a new route has been established from Puri Bypass road to Trumpet Bridge to Shree Setu to JBPC, reducing the travel time to just 10 minutes. Additionally, dedicated parking space has been constructed, facilitating easy parking for pilgrims.
To encourage widespread participation in the inauguration, awareness initiatives have commenced from January 5 at the block and panchayat levels. Additionally, the government plans to facilitate the visit of 10,000 pilgrims from the state to the temple daily starting from January 18 for approximately 15 days. A total budget of Rs 20 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.
During the inaugural period, special events will showcase the Shree Jagannath Temple’s history and Odisha’s cultural heritage. Activities include Gotipua, Sankirtan and Odissi Dance at Bada Danda, aesthetic lighting of Hindu monasteries (mutts), an exhibition at the Jagannath Ballav Pilgrim Center (JBPC) on Lord Jagannath’s story and Rath Yatra rituals. The event will feature displays of sacred items, heritage corridor work details, and live sand art.
The eastern plaza of the heritage corridor will be a spacious open area for festivals, including the Rath Yatra, providing a safe environment for a large congregation of pilgrims. As part of the Temple Transformation Project, the cultural significance of Shree Jagannath Mandir is honoured through the aesthetic redevelopment of surrounding maths and temples in the Kalinga style of architecture, preserving the cultural legacy and enhancing the spiritual ambience. All the mutts will now have their own pride back.
While the Jagannath Dham remains a focal point, the government is renovating around 10,000 places of worship, both small and large, throughout the state. With a budget of over Rs 4,000 crore, these works are at different stages of development and are expected to be completed within the next three to six months.
