Odisha govt to facilitate Puri Jagannath darshan for senior citizens and widows

In a significant welfare initiative, the Odisha government has announced plans to take senior citizens on a pilgrimage to Puri for darshan of Lord Jagannath. 

Under the proposed scheme, citizens aged between 60 and 75 years, along with widowed women in Odisha, will be provided an opportunity to visit the holy town and offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple.

The scheme, titled Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana, is expected to be launched very soon. The Tourism Department has already issued official letters to all district Collectors, outlining the guidelines for the implementation of the programme.

Also Read: Puri Srimandir: 3 servitors suspended for collecting money from devotees

As per the plan, around 35,000 beneficiaries in the State will be covered under the scheme. District Collectors have been instructed to finalise the list of eligible beneficiaries at the panchayat level, ensuring transparency and inclusion at the grassroots.

The initiative aims to enable elderly citizens and widows, many of whom are unable to undertake such pilgrimages due to financial or physical constraints, to fulfil their long-cherished wish of visiting Puri and seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath.