Free Mahaprasad for devotees in Odisha’s Srimandir

Puri: Good news for devotees visiting Srimandir for paying obeisance to deities as they will avail free Mahaprasad on temple premises.

The significant decision was taken by the temple authorities at the second meeting of newly constituted Srimandir Management Committee here on Wednesday.

The temple management has allocated Rs 1.50 crore in the annual budget for serving free Mahaprasad to the devotees.

Earlier, two earthen containers were kept for the devotees, who were visiting Lord Jagannath temple with a desire to have Mahaprasad. With the influx of devotees to the shrine, the quantity of Mahaprasad was not adequate for maximum number of devotees for which many were being deprived of getting free Mahaprasad.

The temple authorities allocated total Rs 169.50 crore for the shrine in the annual budget at the meeting.

The first meeting of the committee was held on March 20. At the second meeting held on Wednesday, we have made total allocation of Rs 169.50 crore for the temple. Now, it is mandatory for regular audit of the expenditure. The decision has been taken to prepare monthly earning report, informed Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Pradip Kumar Jena.

Besides, the authorities hiked the budget allocation amount at Rs 10 crore for Srimandir Gurukul and accommodation expenditure of the servitors.

As per the move, the divyangs will be able to have facility for special darshan of deities in Srimandir and Rs 20 lakh has been allocated for other programmes. Out of total allocation while Rs 5 crore has been allocated for housing of servitors, Rs 5 crore for Srimandir Gurukul and Rs 15 crore for servitors’ accommodation. For the first time, Rs 50 lakh has been allocated in first phase for promotion of Jagannath culture and research.

The authorities have decided for application of standard accounting procedure and merchandised accounting system for accounting of expenditure through software.