In view of the anticipated rush for New Year in Puri, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has revised the timing for opening the temple in wee hours on January 1.
Following discussions with servitors and others at a meeting chaired by Puri Collector Samarth Verma on Wednesday, the temple administration has decided to make all kinds of arrangements for devotees for smooth darshan of the deities on New Year.
The Dwarafita Niti (opening of Singhadwar) will be held at 1 am.
As there will be heavy rush on December 31 and January 1, the SJTA has decided to close the main entrance of the temple early on New Year eve and open the temple at 1 am after a few hours of pause. A special shed will be built for senior citizens at the Singhadwar and the existing shed meant for public darshan will be expanded.
Devotees can know the schedule of rituals on New Year through LED display.
The fee will be fixed for parking of vehicles at parking lot by the Puri Municipality. Keeping in view the possible rush on the Grand Road, it has been decided to declare stretch from Singhadwar to Market Square as ‘No Vending Zone’. The eviction drive to remove street vendors from this place will be carried out for three days from December 31 to January 2.
Movement of heavy vehicles engaged for the Parikrama Project would be restricted from December 31 to January 2, informed Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.