Puri Gajapati lays foundation stone of Srimandir Parikrama project

Puri: Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb laid foundation stone of Srimandir Parikrama project in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the last day of 3-day Mahayajna at the Jagannath Temple here today.

Amid hymns chanted by priests of Shrotriya brahmin community, reverberating entire holy pilgrimage, the much-awaited Srimandir Heritage Corridor Project, commenced for lakhs of pilgrims visiting the centuries old shrine in Puri.

Puri Gajapati, who is the first servitor of Lord Jagannath, performed the rituals of Mahayajna as Karta in past two days for the Srimandir Parikrama project.

CM Patnaik arrived in Puri in the morning to attend the foundation stone laying (Shilanyas) programme of the project.

“Jay Jagannath! Today is a historic day for all Jagannath Bhakts all over the world and indeed a sacred day for the people of Odisha,” Patnaik told media.

Prior to foundation stone laying ritual, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated 10 persons, who have donated their land adjacent to Srimandir for the project, on the special occasion.

Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro, Odisha PCC President Niranjan Patnaik and Puri MP Pinaki Mishra among other dignitaries were present at the programme.

Srimandir Parikrma project is one of the most ambitious plans of the Odisha Government to transform the pilgrim town of Puri into a World Heritage City. The project at an estimated cost of Rs 331.28 Crore was launched in December 2019. 

Also Read: Explained: What is Puri Srimandir Parikrama Project?

Creation of various amenities and infrastructure around 75-metre radius of the Shree Jagannath Temple is the prime feature of this project.