Odisha’s Jagannath Temple Inauguration Comes 5 Days Ahead of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha'

Far away from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, where only five days are left for Ram Lalla’s pran pratishtha, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday inaugurated the Rs 800-crore Jagannath heritage corridor project. The chief minister’s flagship project, he could not hold back tears as he officially unveiled the Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa.

It was a grand event, a signal that the Lok Sabha elections are here and straightforward, if not direct, political messaging by the ruling BJD for the BJP, which is the main opposition in the state. The inauguration took place in the presence of Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Deb and representatives of about 90 temples, including the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal, Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Kashi, Jagannath temples in Dubai, Australia and UK, and thousands of devotees.

“The project has been possible due to the blessings of Lord Jagannath,” said Patnaik.

The project, which was launched five years ago and has been followed through with much fanfare, includes parking areas, a new bridge and a road to ease pilgrim movement, a pilgrimage centre, restroom facilities, cloakrooms, toilets and other amenities for devotees in and around the Jagannath temple.

Calling it a “BJD event”, the BJP has called it politically motivated. But, the BJD was hopeful of matching the fervour around the Ayodhya event with its Puri corridor project. So, why is the Naveen Patnaik-led government’s marquee project significant as the country goes to polls in April-May? And, what happened at the inauguration?

Here is all you need to know:

1. Patnaik walked barefoot along with Puri’s titular king Divyasingha Deb and other dignitaries in a procession around the temple. On the inauguration, the erstwhile king had said: “…Because of Covid there was some delay, but now it is ready and on the 15th, 16th and 17th January, there is going to be the pratishtha yagya and the lokarpana of the entire project…On the 17th, CM (Naveen Patnaik) will unveil the plaque of the project and the purnahuti will take place. After that, the parikrama will be open to the general public, who will enjoy the facilities and amenities…”
2. Patnaik took to X to say it his privilege to be involved in the launch of the parikrama project. “…The tour of the temple gave me a divine feeling. This further tightens the bonds of devotion and devotion of the devotees with the Lord. #SriJagannathaParikrama,” he wrote.
3. According to a report published by India Today, the servitors of the Jagannath Temple in Puri – when they came to invite Patnaik last month – likened the CM to Indradyumna, the legendary king believed to have installed the deities in the 12th century shrine. They told him that he will be remembered for initiating the project.
4. But, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati was absent at the mega event as he was busy at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal for pre-scheduled rituals, said Matruprasad Mishra, public relations officer (PRO) of the Govardhan Peeth.
5. Puri MP Pinaki Misra said a long cherished dream of the people of Puri and something that is so close to the CM’s heart has been fulfilled. “This project is part of the chief minister’s dream and vision to make Puri a world-class heritage city. Devotees are going to get much greater facilities and… go home very satisfied.”
6. The CM released a number of documentary videos on the project and felicitated daily labourers, gardeners, masons, JCB drivers, pattachitra artists, stone carvers and helpers, who were involved in the parikrama project. The entire programme was live telecast in panchayats, blocks and districts. Yagnas were also organised at several places. “To mark the Parikrama Prakalpa inauguration, we have live telecast the entire event in every panchayat of our district. In the evening, diyas have been lit at Balasore,” said Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, Balasore Collector.
7. The project, which is spearheaded by Patnaik’s 5T chairman and former IAS officer VK Pandian, can help strengthen the BJD’s support base as the state will also have assembly polls simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. At least 94 percent of the electorate in Odisha is Hindu.
8. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das said a hall fitted with large digital screens has been set up in the corridor for 900 guests. “… All arrangements are in place. The administration has made Shree Marg (a new road), Shree Setu (a new bridge) and the Jagannath Ballav Parking area functional,” Puri Collector Samarth Verma said.
9. Security has been bolstered in the temple town, with the deployment of 90 platoons (1 platoon comprises 30 personnel) of police force. Apart from CCTV surveillance, the police have engaged bomb disposal and anti-sabotage teams, as well as dog squads, in the area, DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi said.
10. The state government had earlier declared Wednesday a public holiday.

(With PTI inputs)