Locals pitch for exclusive entry, darshan at Puri Jagannath Temple

Bhubaneswar: A mass public movement took shape in Puri on Sunday with hundreds of local residents unitedly demanding a special darshan facility exclusively for the town’s inhabitants at the Jagannath temple.Their primary appeal — an easy-access corridor that would spare them the long, congested queues during peak hours.Large groups of residents gathered outside the Gundicha temple — the birthplace of the Jagannath temple deities — pressing for ‘hassle-free’ darshan at the 12th-century shrine. The locals lit lamps and chanted sacred hymns to draw the attention of the district administration and temple authorities.“Gone are the days when locals could easily and quickly enter the temple to offer prayers. Now, negotiating the madding crowd has become a nightmare, making smooth darshan nearly impossible,” said Sarat Patra, one of the agitators.Echoing similar sentiments, Puriite Akshaya Mishra said: “One of the four entrance doors should be made accessible by Puri municipality residents against identity proof. The administration should also provide special facilities inside the natamandap to ensure smooth darshan for locals.”

Nearly 20 months ago, residents were granted entry through the temple’s western gate, bypassing the long queues at the Lion’s Gate. However, the privilege was later withdrawn, sparking widespread resentment.Last week, servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple met district collector Dibya Jyoti Parida, urging the restoration of exclusive darshan facilities for locals. Collector Parida assured that the matter would be deliberated upon with the temple managing committee and police before any decision is taken. “Certain issues must be addressed first — identity verification, security protocol and a seamless darshan system.

An SOP will be framed only after extensive consultation with all stakeholders,” said Parida, who also serves as deputy chief administrator of the shrine.