Hundreds of local residents in Puri came together in a significant public movement on Sunday, pressing for a dedicated and hassle-free darshan facility exclusively for the town's inhabitants at the revered Shree Jagannath Temple.
Core Demand: A Corridor for Locals
The primary appeal of the gathering was for an easy-access corridor that would allow Puri's residents to bypass the notoriously long and congested queues, especially during peak hours and festival seasons. Large groups assembled outside the historic Gundicha temple, considered the birthplace of the temple's deities, to voice their demand.
To underscore the seriousness of their plea, participants lit traditional lamps and chanted sacred hymns, aiming to draw the immediate attention of the district administration and the temple's governing authorities.
Voices from the Ground: A Lost Privilege
Expressing the community's frustration, agitator Sarat Patra highlighted the drastic change in access. "Gone are the days when locals could easily and quickly enter the temple to offer prayers," he said. "Now, negotiating the madding crowd has become a nightmare, making smooth darshan nearly impossible."
Another resident, Akshaya Mishra, proposed a concrete solution. "One of the four entrance doors should be made accessible by Puri municipality residents against identity proof," Mishra stated. He further urged the administration to arrange special facilities inside the natamandap (the frontal pavilion) to ensure locals can have a proper darshan.
The resentment is partly fueled by a withdrawn privilege. Approximately 20 months ago, locals were granted entry through the temple's western gate, allowing them to skip the queues at the main Lion's Gate. The subsequent withdrawal of this facility has been a major point of contention.
Administrative Response and Next Steps
The movement follows a formal appeal made just last week, when servitors of the temple met with the district collector, Dibya Jyoti Parida, to urge the restoration of exclusive darshan rights for locals.
In response, Collector Parida, who also serves as the deputy chief administrator of the shrine, assured that the matter would be thoroughly discussed. "Certain issues must be addressed first — identity verification, security protocol and a seamless darshan system," Parida explained. He confirmed that any decision would follow deliberations with the temple managing committee and the police. "An SOP will be framed only after extensive consultation with all stakeholders," he added, indicating a procedural but considered approach to the public demand.
The protest underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing the spiritual needs of the local community, who consider the temple an integral part of their daily lives, with the logistical and security demands of managing one of India's most visited pilgrimage sites.
