Days before Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya, on January 17, the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri will host the opening of “Sreemandir Parikrama Prakalpa,” the temple heritage corridor project. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has invited representatives from 90 religious institutions and shrines across the nation to take part in the significant ceremony on January 17.
At his palace, “Sri Nahar,” Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb began the rites on Friday, January 12. Priests received traditional “Sri Nahar” invitations from the Maharaja of Puri, along with betel nuts, in anticipation of the impending “Maha Yagna.” The date of the Maha Yagna is January 15.
Interestingly, the dynasty that established the Shri Jagannath Temple in the twelfth century CE is descended from Gajapati Maharaja Deb.
After the invitation, there will be special rites called ‘Ankuropan’ and ‘Ankur Puja’ on Saturday (January 13), followed by ‘Yajna Adhibas’ on Sunday. On January 15, an “Akhand Deepa” (ever-burning lamp) will be erected at the location of the three-day yagna performed by priests. According to plan, on January 17, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will walk down the corridor in the afternoon and formally declare it open for devotees, marking the culmination of the puja ceremonies.
At Utterparswa Mutt, a podium where the chief minister would address the devotees is being constructed. Cultural performances and the custom of blowing conch shells will accompany it.
The main function of this corridor, which is to facilitate the devotees’ smooth circumambulation of the temple, is why it was given the name Shri Mandir Parikrama Project. The preparation of it came at a ₹ 943 crore expense. It features a 10-meter-long pedestrian walkway and a 7-meter-wide green buffer zone.
In December, there was a claim that the King of Nepal and important Hindu temples worldwide had also received invites. For the big celebration in Puri, the Odisha government put together an elite guest list that included celebrities, corporate executives, and well-known VIPs.
It is anticipated that five lakh devotees and VVIPs will seek darshan. Increased security
An estimated five lakh devotees are expected to fill the temple corridor, and prominent visitors are expected to be present as well. Prior to the opening of the historic corridor, Puri implemented five-layer security measures to improve protection for the temple corridor.
Numerous security guards have been assigned to guarantee the protection of VVIPs. Numerous lifeguards will be posted at approved beach bathing locations, while the Indian Coast Guard and Marine Police will be in charge of beachfront security.
According to the IG, from January 12 to 16, more than 44 police platoons—each with 30 officers—were sent into the town to handle traffic, provide security, and uphold law and order.
45 police officers will oversee the arrangements, the IG continued. Security guards have been stationed inside the temple to guarantee a smooth darshan, and there will be some road restrictions in place that day.
The Shri Mandir Parikrama Project: What Is It?
With the help of the Shri Mandir Parikrama Project, the 12th-century Jagannath Temple’s rectangular corridor will be transformed into a modern pilgrimage site with cutting-edge features. These include facilities for screening bags, a cloakroom that can hold the possessions of almost 4,000 families, and a queue management system for 6,000 devotees. Aside from that, there are provisions for drinking water, restrooms, areas for hand and foot washing, informational and donation kiosks, shade- and rest-filled shelter pavilions, multi-level parking, a designated lane for shuttles and emergency vehicles, an integrated command and control centre, and a souvenir shop.
Ranjan Kumar Das previously announced that the Lokarpan Yajna would take place between January 15 and January 17, 2024. “Vedic recitations will be performed at the temple’s four gates,” he had declared. Finalised are the Rigveda for the eastern entrance, the Yajurveda for the southern gate, the Samaveda for the western gate, and the Atharvaveda for the northern gate.
Project Schedule
The land acquisition procedure for the Shri Mandir Parikrama Project began in November 2019, when around 600 inhabitants of the surrounding area gave up 15.64 acres that were considered essential for the creation of a security zone. In November 2021, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik placed the project’s foundation stone.