The queue system, introduced for darshan of the deities at the Shree Jagannath temple here on Monday, triggered resentment among the locals and devotees.
In protest, locals went on a rampage and uprooted the barricades and barged into the temple. A scuffle ensued between the police deployed at the Singhadwar (Lions Gate) and the devotees. The district Collector and SP rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation. “Those who were involved in creating disturbance and breaking the barricades have been identified by scrutinising the CCTV footages and action will be taken against them,” said SP Sarthak Sarangi. The queue system was implemented for the first time by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on an experimental basis. It would be implemented once every week till the holy month of Kartik. This was done as per the suggestions by the Supreme Court for temple reforms.
According to the system, devotees would form a queue at the Singhadwar and move inside the temple through barricades. After having darshan, they would exit through the three other gates. There are separate barricades for men and women. The move aims at ensuring smooth and hassle-free darshan of the deities.
SJTA Chief Administrator Pradipta Mohapatra himself entered the temple in the queue on the day and said the system was successful. “I along with the Collector and SP entered the temple in the queue from Lions Gate and had darshan of the Lords and enquired about people’s opinions. All of them had a positive response,” said Mohapatra. He further informed that gradually a separate queue would be made for the senior citizens, which also can be used by the VIPs and local devotees. He said the administration would keep suggestion boxes at the four doors so that devotees can give opinions to make the system people friendly. Till Kartik, the queue system would be worked out once or twice a day; and from Margasira, it would be a permanent feature. To provide relief to the devotees from sunrays, the SJTA would instal more sheds, said Mohapatra.