post news network
Puri: Srimandir, the abode of Lord Jagannath, will be closed for three hours Sunday for public to facilitate the visit of the last Nepal king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.
According to a decision of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), devotees will not be allowed to enter the 12th century shrine from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
It is learnt that Dev along with a few of his officials will reach the south gate of Srimandir around 11am. Senior officials of SJTA and some servitors will welcome the visiting guest. “Nepal royals have been accorded a special status at Srimandir. Gajapati king Dibyasingha Deb will visit the shrine prior to Dev and greet the latter at Beherana gate. Dev will enter the sanctum sanctorum via Jay-Bijay gate and Bhitarakatha,” said a SJTA official.
Sources said Dev will perform special puja at the sanctum sanctorum and offer gifts to the deities. “The Nepal king will leave Srimandir after visiting the temples of Lord Nrusingha, Goddess Bimala, Goddess Mahalaxmi and Lord Ganesh on the shrine precincts,” added the official.
Notably, Dev had visited Srimandir as the constitutional head of the Himalayan kingdom March 29, 2003. PNN
