Dhadi Darshan at Puri Srimandir: New darshan arrangement postponed

Plans to commence a trial run for the proposed regulated lane darshan (Dhadi Darshan) at the Jagannath temple in Puri have been withheld. New arrangements for darshan have been postponed by nearly a month, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Thursday.

The State government made this decision factoring in an expected surge of devotees during the New Year-Day. The rush may continue thereafter due to the Ganga Snan ritual attracting many visitors.

Also Read: New arrangements for Darshan in Puri Jagannath temple from New Year

The temple is anticipated to remain crowded till January 20, 2025. However, lane darshan would be fully operational between January 20 and January 22, Law Minister Harichandan expressed.

“Earlier, we had planned to conduct a trial run of lane darshan. More devotees are expected to visit the shrine in pilgrim town Puri from December 28 onwards. The rush will reach its peak during December 30, 31 and January 1. I don’t feel conducting a trial run during those days would be appropriate,” the Law Minister stated.

Must Read: Collapsible wooden barricading system soon to ensure disciplined darshan at Puri Jagannath Temple

“The process of the Ganga Snan ritual is to begin during January 18-20. Rather than making any experiments, we decided to postpone the implementation of lane darshan. The structures meant for smooth darshan are in place and the new arrangement will likely begin around January 22, 2025. So that, the devotees coming to the shrine during the extremely rush period (New Year) would not face any difficulty,” the Law Minister added.

Notably, the new arrangement is likely to be implemented from January 22, 2025.