Rituals delayed at Puri Srimandir: Patitapaban temple opens late, thousands return disappointed on New Year

The Patitapaban Temple under the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri opened with a considerable delay on Friday, resulting in a major postponement of the Patitapaban Aarti amid a heavy influx of devotees on the second day of the new English calendar year.

Temple sources confirmed that the Aarti of Patitapaban Jagannath, situated near the entrance of the Srimandir, was finally conducted at 9:54 am, much later than the scheduled morning ritual. The delay occurred as the Patitapaban Temple remained closed from early morning hours, disrupting the customary darshan schedule for devotees.

Devotees Denied Darshan From Early Morning

Sources reported that from dawn, lakhs of devotees had assembled near the Srimandir, many of them seeking darshan of the Patitapaban Jagannath. For devotees who are unable to enter the sanctum sanctorum to have darshan of Lord Jagannath, Patitapaban Jagannath is considered a direct manifestation of the deity.

However, due to the delayed opening, thousands of devotees were unable to have darshan during the morning hours. Pilgrims entering the Srimandir through the Singhadwara expressed dissatisfaction after being denied darshan, with many leaving the premises visibly disappointed.

New Year Rush Adds To Discontent

The delay drew sharp reactions as Puri witnessed an unprecedented surge of pilgrims during the New Year. Despite dense fog and cold-wave conditions, lakhs of devotees from across Odisha and other states thronged the temple town to begin the year with prayers at the Jagannath Temple.

Large crowds continued to gather along the Badadanda, and darshan arrangements extended late into last night. Officials said devotees continued to offer prayers at the Srimandir till 1:55 am amid heavy footfall.

Also Read: ‘Mistake’ in Puri Srimandir calendar draws objections from servitors, scholars; SJTA issues clarification

Delay Linked To Sevayat Issue

Sources indicated that the delay in opening the Patitapaban Temple was due to personal reasons of a sevayat, which led to the disruption of the morning ritual schedule.

Meanwhile, in view of the massive turnout, security arrangements across Puri were intensified. The police administration deployed additional forces for crowd control, traffic regulation, and to ensure smooth darshan around the Srimandir and adjoining areas as the heavy rush continued into Friday.