Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has announced a revised timing for the Dhwaja Bandha ritual, in view of the massive influx of devotees expected to throng the 12th-century shrine to usher in the New Year.
As per the revised schedule, the Dhwaja Bandha ritual, usually performed at around 5:00 PM, will now be concluded by 3:00 pm. This change aims to facilitate smooth management of darshan and mitigate the risk of overcrowding, ensuring a hassle-free experience for devotees.
The temple administration is working to balance tradition and crowd control, keeping the rituals intact. The SJTA has urged devotees’ cooperation and understanding in making this New Year’s celebration a success.
Notably, the Dhwaja Bandha ritual, an integral part of the temple’s daily rituals, involves the changing of the temple flag. The revised schedule is expected to enable devotees to witness this sacred ritual, making their New Year visit more meaningful and memorable.
On the other hand, a member of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee has called upon the authorities to refrain from keeping the Shree Jagannath Temple open at midnight to mark the English New Year.
In a formal letter to the SJTA and the Odisha government, managing committee member Mahesh Kumar Sahoo expressed strong reservations over the practice of opening the temple during the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. He termed the custom as “non-Sanatani” and incompatible with the long-established religious ethos of the shrine.
