Puri: With only three days left for the inauguration of the much-awaited Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project, the magnificent artifacts made of khondalite stones have given special touch to the site.
As the corridor work is complete now, one can witness how details related to the Lords have been given importance in this project’s beautification. Of the 55-meter buffer zone of the project, a 19-meter area has been created with greenery, which enhances the beauty of the project manifold, sources said.
Devotees visiting the Srimandir Parikrama will not only experience an aesthetic feel but also feel enchanted by an eco-friendly environment.
Official sources said that around 120 species of small and big plants related to Jagannath culture are being planted. Within five meters of the buffer zone, small trees are being planted for the daily worship of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The greenery includes tulsi (holy basil) – the beloved plant of the Lord used in every Nitikanti of the temple. Lord Jagannath himself holds Tulsi on his head and in his heart. Mahaprasad of Mahaprabhu cannot be complete without tulsi leaves. Flower garlands and tulsi garlands are also adorned around the neck and hands of Shree Jagannath. Keeping all these things in mind, tulsi has been given special treatment in the Srimandir Parikrama Project.
Tusia trees have been planted at various places in the Parikrama Project. Trees such as kamini, malli, henna, jui, tagar, tarat, sugandharaja, kundamalli, red alder, green alder, pentas, cygium, ixora, royo, Amazon blue and pandanus grace the area along with tulips.
The buffer zone is followed by a 10-meter circumambulation route. Then 14 meters of plantation zone and followed by 8 meters of outdoor circumambulation route. This means that the plantation zone is between the inner and outer demonstration routes. Devotees will be mesmerised by the beautiful experience of greenery and the fragrance of flowers as they walk through these two scenic routes.
However, in the plantation zone, small trees and big trees such as boul koli, golden champa, wood (katha) champa, kadamba, sky malli, gong shiuli, neem, chathiana, nageswar, nagamalli etc. have been planted. These large and small trees have been collected locally and from outside the state. While the maximum number of trees came from Andhra Pradesh’s Rajahmundry, Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra have sent several of them.
More than 150 gardeners and staff are engaged in the maintenance of the greenery. Although the east gate and the Lion Gate sides are kept open for festivals, trees are being planted in mobile plantation boxes there. Apart from this, some ornamental trees will be placed in movable planters and will adorn the Lion Gate route. It will be easy to transfer them during the Rath Yatra or other festivals.
Special emphasis has been put on flower arrangements. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given special importance to giving the devotees a taste of spiritual feeling along with a beautiful natural environment during their temple tour. Steps are being taken to make the circumambulation route as attractive as possible for the devotees. Four gates and the crown of the temple are being decorated with flowers along with the corridor project.
