BHUBANESWAR, June 13: In a significant development, all four gates of the revered Jagannath Temple in Puri were reopened for devotees on Thursday morning. The momentous occasion was marked by the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his council of ministers.
After being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three gates of the 12th-century shrine were ceremoniously reopened following the ‘Mangal Alati’ ritual dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Chief Minister Majhi, accompanied by his deputies, ministers, as well as several BJP MPs and leaders, visited the temple to pay homage to the deity. They also performed a ‘parikrama’ around the temple complex, seeking divine blessings.
Addressing reporters in Puri, Chief Minister Majhi highlighted the government’s decision to reopen all four gates of the temple, signaling a pivotal move in restoring normalcy. He reassured that the government would closely monitor the situation and implement necessary measures to ensure the smooth flow of devotees to the shrine.
Moreover, Majhi announced the Odisha government’s commitment to allocating a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore for the temple’s management, maintenance, and development. This provision will be incorporated in the upcoming state budget, emphasizing the government’s dedication to preserving the sanctity of the sacred site.
Cabinet Minister Suresh Pujari emphasized the significance of seeking Lord Jagannath’s blessings for the welfare of humankind and the state’s progress over the next five years. He also mentioned that a detailed report has been requested to understand the reasons behind the prolonged closure of three temple gates post-pandemic.
The decision to reopen all temple gates fulfills a key promise outlined in the BJP’s election manifesto, addressing concerns raised by devotees regarding restricted access during the pandemic. Previously, only the Singhadwara (Lion Gate) was accessible to devotees, causing inconvenience.
The reopening of all gates marks a significant step towards restoring the spiritual vibrancy of the Jagannath Temple and reaffirms the government’s commitment to facilitating religious practices while ensuring public safety.
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