Sudarsan Pattnaik To Stage Sit-In Over Demand For Opening One More Gate Of Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: Noted sand artist and member of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) Sudarsan Pattnaik on Sunday reiterated his demand for opening at least one more gate of the 12th-century shrine in Odisha’s Puri town for local residents.

Currently devotees are entering the temple through Singhadwar (lion gate), leading to a huge rush and long queues.

Pattnaik said that one more door should be opened to respect the emotions of the locals while the the sub- committee, which has been formed with some members of Chhatisa Nijog, can later take a decision regarding the others.

The sand artist further said that he would stage a sit-in before the ‘Paschimadwara’ of Srimandir from Monday if the demand is not met.

While questioning the delay over Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)’s request for inspection of the inner Ratna Bhandar (treasure house) of Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town, Pattnaik on July 21 requested Puri royal scion Dibyasingha Deb, who is the chairman of the temple’s managing committee, to open all gates for devotees as soon as possible.

“We all are aware that there is a huge discontentment among the devotees, in particular the locals related to closer of three doors. During covid-19 pandemic three doors were closed for the devotees, But till date why all the same has not been opened for the devotees. Therefore, I am requesting to open other doors of Shree Jagannath temple for devotees as soon as possible. If there is any reason to not open other doors, we should inform to devotees in a proper manner. At least one door should be opened immediately for the local people. Once again | humbly request you to do the needful at the earliest to resolve these issues before it is too late,” he wrote.

On Saturday, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra had also joined the devotees in demanding that people be allowed to enter Puri Jagannath Temple through all four gates of the shrine. “The temple administration should re-open all gates of Puri Srimandir as there is no COVID threat now; Puri residents have a unique connection with Lord Jagannath and the closure of entry gates causes severe inconvenience to devotees, especially senior citizens and women,” said Dharmendra.

“We cannot understand why devotees are not allowed to enter the temple through the other three gates. If the rules put people in trouble, what is the meaning of having those rules?” Damodar Mahasuara, a senior servitor, told the media.

According to sources, a decision on opening all the four outer doors of the 12^th century shrine is likely to be taken within the next two to three days. Though no official confirmation has so far been made in this regard, Puri district Collector Samarth Verma is reported to be closely monitoring the arrangements.

Steps are being taken to allow entry of devotees through south and west gates apart from Singhadwar of the temple, while north gate will be used for exit, the sources added.