Bhubaneswar: Servitors of the Jagannath Temple and residents of Puri have expressed resentment over an online app that claims to provide devotees with a hassle-free darshan experience at the temple for a fee of Rs 1,000.
The app ‘Hari Om’ promises to offer VIP darshan services, complete with a personal assistant to guide devotees through the rituals, and provides tulsi and flowers for puja. Additionally, it claims to offer a special meal of ‘56 bhog’ inside the temple premises.
Meanwhile, locals and servitors have accused the app of commercialising the temple and its rituals, undermining the sanctity of the temple, and creating a sense of inequality among devotees.
They also objected to the app’s description of Mahaprasad as ‘dal and rice’, terming it an insult to the sacred offering.
According to the app, devotees need to book a time slot and reach the temple 30 minutes before the scheduled time. They are also required to carry a government-issued ID proof.
The app’s claims have sparked a heated debate about the role of technology in temples and the commercialisation of religious experiences.
Locals have expressed concerns that the app is trying to turn the temple into a VIP darshan experience, undermining the traditional values of the temple.
