News from Puri

The Rigveda is being recited in front of Sighadwar; the Samaveda in front of the Paschimadwar; the Yajurveda in front of Uttaradwar and the Atharvaveda in front of Dakshinadwar.

A security blanket has been thrown in and around the pilgrim city of Puri for the inauguration ceremony of Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa on January 17.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said, “The Odisha government is being run by a non-Odia ideology. The government does not know the essence of Srimandir. They think of it as only a tourist place and beautifying its periphery based on that thought.”

Special ‘Makar Chaula’ is prepared on this day which is offered to the presiding deities first and then eaten by all in the family. People wear new dresses and bow down to their elderlies seeking blessings.

As part of security arrangements, 44 platoons of police personnel along with K-9 teams will be deployed in the city along with surveillance and bomb-defusing teams. The city will be under surveillance of 135 CCTVs fixed at different locations of the city. 

With only three days left for the inauguration of Srimandir Parikrma Prakalpa, preparations are on a war footing in the pilgrim city of Puri. Rituals like Acharya Baran and Guateka were organised at the palace of Puri king Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasigha Deb on Friday while Ankruraropan Niti was solemnized on Saturday.

Ahead of the inauguration of the ‘Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa’ (Srimandir Heritage Corridor Project) in Puri, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Friday performed the ‘Acharyabaran Niti’ in his palace. 

A total of 44 platoons of police force will be deployed for the overall security, traffic and other arrangements which will be in place from today till January 16.

As per reports, the road that passes through the main market in Satyabadi has electric poles installed, bulbs on them, but there has been no electricity connection till now. Accidents often take place on the road in the middle of the market due to the darkness and there are reports of people losing their lives as well.

SJTA chief administrator, Ranjan Das informed that various rituals and related works will be carried on for three days (January 15, 16, and 17) before the inauguration ceremony on January 17.   

Displaced by the Srimandir Parikrama Prakalp (Heritage Corridor Project) in Puri, they lamented that they have not got invitations for the inauguration of the project slated to be held on January 17.

As per reports, the OBCC will complete the work of the Yatri Parikrama and hand it over to the district administration by January 11. The work on garbage lifting and cleaning has already started from yesterday.

Police ADG (Law and Order), Sanjay Kumar said, “Adequate security cover will be in place in Puri for the Parikrama Project inauguration as a lot of VIPs will be present. Similarly, the focus will be on ensuring hassle-free darshan for devotees."

A preparatory meeting was held on Thursday in Puri Palace which was chaired by King Gajapatai Dibyasingha Deb. The meeting was joined by SJTA Chief Ranjan Das, Collector Samarth Verma, Managing Committee members and other administrative officials.

At least 21 teams comprising 5-6 ornithologists in each have been deployed in the counting of the migratory and domestic birds in Chilika lagoon spreading over Rambha, Balugaon, Tangi, Satapada and Chilika ranges.