Puri: With the holy month of Kartika beginning October 24, a preparatory meeting to provide all the facilities to ‘habisyalis’ (women who observe fast during the month) was held in Puri on Saturday.
Notably, women stay in Puri for a month and visit Jagannath Temple every day while observing the fast.
According to official sources, the meeting discussed free accommodation, ‘Mahaprasad sevana’, and healthcare facilities for about 2,500 ‘habisyalis’.
They will be accommodated at Mochi Sahi Kalyan Mandap in the railway complex, and in a building at JE Road, while facility for bathing will be provided near Narendra Puskrini.
They will be provided transportation to visit the temple every day, the sources added.
Puri Collector Jyoti Prakash Das said that the district administration would provide all facilities for comfortable stay of the ‘habisyalis’.
“We have prepared the venues suitable for their stay. They will be provided mattress, bed sheets, pillows, drinking water, food, and healthcare facilities,” he said.
The ‘habisyalis will, however, be allowed inside temple only after proper identification, he added.
Meanwhile, relatives of the devotees are thronging Puri to register the names at the Tourism office of Puri. They are required to submit Aadhaar card and photographs for the purpose.
“The facilities being provided are good. I have brought forms for seven habisyalis this year and already registered the names. ,” said Balita Palatasingh, a relative.
