Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple administration has completed the construction of a ramp and railings to facilitate smoother and more accessible darshan for devotees with disabilities at the 12th-century shrine in Puri.
The ramp has been built from the Gumuta near the temple’s northern entrance to the Kurma Bedha. The initiative aims to make the darshan experience more convenient for Divyang devotees while ensuring proper crowd management and safety.
The temple administration is preparing a special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate the process. Under the proposed arrangement, eligible devotees will be allowed to reach the area near the Bahara Katha, close to the Jaya-Vijaya Dwara, to have darshan of Lord Jagannath.
A trial run involving around 20 devotees per day is planned in the initial phase. However, the trial will not be conducted during the ongoing Kartik month due to the heavy influx of devotees. The facility will be introduced after the necessary arrangements are finalised.
A high-level meeting was recently held to review the proposed system, with the Puri District Collector, Superintendent of Police, members of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, senior servitors and temple administration officials in attendance.
The meeting deliberated on several operational aspects, including online registration, reporting and verification procedures, transit routes, safety protocols and emergency arrangements. Members of the Managing Committee also shared suggestions on the booking mechanism and scheduling of darshan.
Specially trained volunteers will be deployed to assist Divyang devotees and facilitate their movement towards the Natamandap or Jagamohan.
However, the use of conventional wheelchairs inside the temple remains restricted. The administration is yet to decide on an alternative arrangement, including the possible use of specially designed wooden or other wheelchairs or assistance by attendants to carry devotees. The issue will be examined further before the facility is made operational.
Under the proposed online booking system, a Divyang devotee will be eligible for special darshan twice a year, with a minimum gap of six months between visits.
The initiative follows an earlier direction from the Orissa High Court to take appropriate steps to ensure orderly darshan for devotees with disabilities at the temple.
