Bhubaneswar: To help devotees beat the summer heat, a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioning system will be installed at Natamandap of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town at an estimated cost of Rs 74 lakh.
The bidding process for the same ended recently. The proposal was approved by the Chhatisa Nijog, a group of servitor associations, in October 2024 with an aim to enhance the darshan experience of worshippers, especially for women, the elderly, and differently-abled. The Natamandap, located directly in front of the sanctum sanctorum, frequently becomes overcrowded during peak hours.
“The VRF system will be installed at Natamandap for the comfort of the devotees. It will regulate temperature and airflow, ensuring seamless darshan even during the summer months,” said a Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) official.
The work is expected to be completed within two months, possibly before the upcoming Rath Yatra.
This ties into a pilot queue-based (Dhadi) darshan system approved earlier by the temple’s managing committee. Six dedicated queues with collapsible wooden barricades will be introduced in the air-conditioned Natamandap, with priority for vulnerable groups, for smooth movement of devotees.
