Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple authorities in Puri have made special arrangements to ensure smooth ‘darshan’ for differently abled and elderly devotees at the 12th-century shrine, officials said Thursday.
According to a statement by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), a ramp and railing extending from the northern gate, ‘Gumuta’, to the ‘Kurma Bedha’ (inner precinct) of the temple have been completed to facilitate the entry of such devotees.
Additionally, specially trained volunteers will be deployed to assist differently abled and elderly devotees, SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee said.
The volunteers will help devotees reach the ‘Nata Mandapa’ (dancing hall) or ‘Jagamohana’ (general assembly), he said.
Padhee said the temple administration is developing an online platform and a mobile application to facilitate access to the service.
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In the initial pilot phase, 50 differently abled and elderly devotees per day will be able to avail the facility through the online platform and mobile application, he said.
A recent meeting chaired by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati discussed the possibility of deploying volunteers from the Indian Red Cross Society and St John Ambulance for the purpose.
Consequently, the SJTA has written to the Puri district collector, who is also the chairperson of the District Red Cross Society, requesting the provision of suitably trained volunteers.
The chief administrator said ensuring smooth ‘darshan’ of the sibling deities — Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath — for all devotees and pilgrims is the top priority of the temple administration.
Meanwhile, Shree Gundicha Temple was opened to the general public Wednesday after a gap of six years.
The SJTA, along with the district administration and police, has made necessary arrangements within the temple premises to facilitate devotees and ensure orderly ‘darshan’.
Provisions including free entry, wheelchairs, volunteers and ramps at the ‘Nata Mandapa’ have been made for differently abled and elderly pilgrims.