With the growing number of devotees visiting Puri’s Jagannath Temple, the Anand Bazaar area, where Mahaprasad is served, is struggling to accommodate the large crowd. This has made it difficult to serve Mahaprasad efficiently. To address this issue, Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb has proposed setting up an Annakhetra (community dining hall) outside the Uttara Dwara (Northern Gate) of the 12th-century temple.
Inspection of Development Projects
Earlier in the day, the Gajapati Maharaja, along with members of the Cultural Advisory Board, reviewed various development projects related to the Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa (Heritage Corridor Project). The inspection started with an assessment of the Srimandir Parikrama Project and continued to other key sites in Puri.
Key Locations Reviewed:
- Shree Gundicha Temple – One of the most significant temples associated with Lord Jagannath.
- Shree Jagannath Ballav Pramod Udyan – A garden area connected to temple rituals.
- Jagannath Ballav Pilgrim Center – A facility meant for visiting devotees.
- Srimandir Office & Abhyarthana Center – Administrative areas related to temple services.
- Badadanda Development – The Grand Road leading to the temple, crucial for festivals like Rath Yatra.
- Shree Jagannath Cultural Center – A proposed center to promote Jagannath culture.
- Raghunandan Library – A significant library preserving Jagannath-related texts.
- Ananda Bazaar – The primary area for serving Mahaprasad.
Government’s Role in Execution
After reviewing these locations, discussions will be held on how to enhance services for devotees, particularly through the proposed Annakhetra. Gajapati Maharaja assured that necessary steps will be taken by the government to implement these projects efficiently and improve the overall experience for devotees visiting Srimandir.
