Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the Habisyali camp at Brundabati Niwas in Puri on Monday, marking the auspicious occasion of ‘Kartika Somabar.’
While interacting with the women observing ‘Kartika Brata’ in the pilgrim town, the Chief Minister announced that the state government will introduce a dedicated digital platform for Habisyali registration from next year.
The proposed online platform will also include provisions for healthcare and emergency assistance for the Habisyalis, he said.
Hailing Puri as the “symbol of devotion and faith” for Odias, the CM reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming the holy town into the “Pilgrim City of the World.”
The recent decision to grant municipal corporation status to Puri marks the first step toward achieving this goal, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government has arranged lodging and dining facilities for around 2,500 Habisyalis this year. The accommodations have been provided at Brundabati Niwas, Bagala Dharmasala, Railway Tourist Complex, Railway Kalyan Mandap, and Motisahi Kalyan Mandap.
The government has spent Rs 3.3 crore on the arrangements, Rs 70 lakh more than last year, to ensure better facilities and comfort for the Habisyalis, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Kartik Brata Habisyali Yojana has been strengthened this year, with coordinated efforts from volunteers, police personnel, and medical teams to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all devotees.
Habisyalis are elderly women, mainly widows, who observe the month-long Kartika Brata ritual in Odisha. Thousands of them visit Puri during the holy month every year to observe the brata.
