Facility For Devotees On Wheelchair Inside Puri Jagannath Temple Remains Elusive

Puri: The darshan of deities inside Jagannath Temple, here remains out of bounds for Divyang devotees in absence of a ramp way for them.

The physically challenged people are allowed to go on wheelchairs upto Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate) in front of the temple. But they face problem to get entry into the temple as they are not allowed to take the wheelchair inside.

“Some volunteers have been deployed to help the Divyangs inside the temple. But it is not possible for some Divyangs like me to go without the wheelchair to have darshan of the deities,” said quadriplegic actor from Odisha Jitendra Biswal.

“Earlier, there was a temporary ramp at the north gate of the temple. Later, it was made permanent. But it is not working now. The ramp way through Ananda Bazar has also not be completed,” he added.

He has appealed to the state government and the district administration to make Jagannath darshan for the devotees on wheelchair permissible.

“When the normal people can have darshan of Lord Jagannath inside the temple, those with disabilities like me have to be satisfied with offering prayer from outside. The government should create a path for the wheelchair users inside the temple,” said Biswal.

It may be noted that following Biswal’s request for ramps at sea beach in the Pilgrim Town, it was inaugurated in the second week of August.

The Jagannath temple in Puri reopened to all devotees on Monday after remaining closed for four months due to COVID pandemic.