PM Modi to have darshan of Lords from outer barricade

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Jan 26:

During his scheduled Odisha visit next month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Puri to offer his prayers at Jagannath temple here. However, he would be paying obeisance from the outer barricade and not inside the sanctum sanctorum in view of the impending repair work of the Jagamohan scheduled to begin tomorrow.

In a meeting between Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator and servitors’ bodies yesterday, it was decided that the Prime Minister will have the darshan of the deities from the outer wooden barricade to the sanctum sanctorum through Jaya Bijay Dwar .

Apart from the security and other aspects, the meeting also discussed the loss of earning of the servitors due to restrictions of devotees entering the sanctum sanctorum of the mandir following the Jagamohan repair work.

During PM’s visit, entry of devotees and others will be restricted for a brief period.

The repair work of Jagamohan will begin tomorrow; during repair work all the rituals of the Lord will be followed.

But, devotees will not be allowed to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Due to this the servitors engaged in the inner sanctum sanctorum stand to lose temple donations given by the visitors. They are demanding a compensation for the earning they stand to lose.

The temple authorities said that the Pandas can sit outside the outer enclosure of the sanctum sanctorum, where the CCTV cameras can keep a watch on them.

No lamp will be lighted near the Aruna Stambha, but will be placed outside. The family members of the servitors will be allowed independent darshan between the Jaya Bijay Dwar and outer enclosure in front of the sanctum sanctorum.

Modi will address two meetings, besides seeking blessings of Lord Jagannath at Puri during his two-day visit to Odisha on February 6, according to state government officials.