Puri: Bringing considerable relief for devotees visiting the 12th century shrine, Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri has installed air conditioners (Acs) in the Nata Mandap to ensure a more comfortable environment for darshan.
According to officials, the air-conditioning system installed by Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) became fully operational on Monday, addressing a long-standing demand for better facilities for devotees in the Nata Mandap, a prominent darshan space at the shrine.
The need for such an arrangement was felt particularly during ‘Bahar Katha Darshan’, when large gatherings often lead to considerable discomfort amid hot and humid weather.
With the installation of Acs, devotees will be able to spend time in a relatively cooler and more comfortable environment for darshan of the sibling deities. The facility is expected to be particularly beneficial during hot and humid weather.
The initiative has been welcomed by servitors and devotees, who said the facility would provide much-needed relief during crowded occasions. The Nata Mandap witnesses a large congregation of devotees during ‘Bahar Katha Darshan’, making temperature control an important requirement.
Necessary precautions have also been taken to ensure that the air-conditioning system does not adversely affect the Deities, temple rituals or the sanctity of the heritage structure.
The AC system has been installed keeping the temple rituals and heritage conservation requirements in mind. The installation has also been carried out in compliance with guidelines of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the protection of the temple structure.
