New darshan facilities to begin on trial basis on Dec 30 & 31 at Puri Jagannath Temple; entry and exit points detailed by Law Minister

Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday shared updated details regarding his previously announced decision to implement a queue system for darshan at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri starting from the New Year of 2025.

In his address to the media, the minister detailed that necessary measures, precautions, and arrangements required for the transition process will be kept in place starting from the 27th or 28th of December and for two days, December 30 and 31, the queue system will be done on an experimental basis.

“Following the experimental trial, on the 1st of January, the new darshan arrangements will be made available to all devotees entering the Jagannath Temple. We are actively developing facilities to ensure a smooth darshan for women, children, differently-abled, and senior individuals visiting the temple,’ stated Prithviraj Harichandan.

Meanwhile, he also added that as per the new arrangements, devotees will enter through the Sata Pahacha and exit through the Ghanti Dwara and Garuda Dwara. Further specifying, he said that women and senior citizens will exit through Ghanti Dwara whereas male devotees will exit through Garada Dwara after completing their darshan.

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Among the several planned new arrangements for devotees, a six-lane ramp to facilitate smooth darshan for divyang and senior citizens is being undertaken on priority. Additionally, collapsible barricades and separate queues for women and children are also among the developments currently being carried out at the 12th-century temple, as stated earlier by the Law Minister.

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This apart, 20 retired military personnel will be deployed in Ananda Bazaar along with regular temple security staff to regulate the movement of devotees and enforce the rules of SJTA. Moreover, unauthorised collection of 'dakshina' by placing pots and trays in Srimandir has been stopped.