Puri: The Arpan Rathas moved across Odisha before the inauguration of the Srimandir Parikrama Project on January 17 have collected Rs 3,06, 62,813 from devotees across the State in the form of donations.
It was informed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) today.
“A donation of Rs.3,06,62,813 has been received by the temple administration from various office viz., Zilla Parishad Office, District Collector, Panchayat Samiti, Municipal Corporation and Gram Panchayat between 22-01-24 and 07-02-24. The money received by the administration was collected from devotees from all 30 districts.” SJTA official stated.
The SJTA formed a special committee to look after the devotees’ offerings. The committee counted the amount in six phases and deposited in the bank account of the temple administration.
The raths also collected around 250 quintals of rice from the devotees, which the temple administration donated to the temple management.
The Supakar servitors prepared khichidi and kanika prasad using the donation rice and distributed the prasad among devotees near the temple.
Devotees had donated while rice, betel nuts and currencies as offering to Lord Jagannath. As the rice collected from devotees is os mixed quality, it was not used in the preparation of Mahaprasad.
The betel nuts collected through Arpan Raths will be used in the preparation of Bidia Paan for the Holy trinity.
The Arpan Raths were flagged off in block and panchayat level across the State in the first week of January before the inaugural ceremony of Srimandir Parikrama project on January 17.
