Puri Shankaracharya to be consulted for Heritage Corridor Project inauguration: SJTA chief 

A day after the Shankaracharya of the Puri Gobardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati expressed his dissatisfaction for being sidelined by the temple admin and the government, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration chief, Ranjan Das on Thursday said nothing will be done without his consent. 

He said so after an important meeting on the ambitious Srimandir Heritage Corridor Project (Parikrama Prakalpa) which is all set to be inaugurated on January 17 where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik among other dignitaries will be present.

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 After the meeting, the district Collector, SJTA chief administrator, additional SP, officials of the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Ltd (OBCC), and concerned engineers went straight to the earmarked place where the yajna and other rituals will be performed during the inauguration. The place is near the north gate stretching to ‘Dolabedi’. A shed for the Chief Minister and other invited guests will be set up at the backside of the Bada Akheda Mutt’s north side. 

While briefing the journalists, SJTA chief administrator Das said, “We have identified places for yajna, guests, and a dais for idols of deities. We also discussed traffic and stage arrangements.”

When asked about the involvement of Puri Shankaracharya, Das said, “Saints from the four dhams and priests from the state and outside will be invited. He (Shankaracharya) is the religious leader of Puri and head of the Gobardhan Peeth, he will also be invited. Nothing will be done without his opinion."