Puri: Lakhs of devotees had darshan of lord Jagannath and Balabhadra and devi Subhadra on the first day of the new year and offered prayers seeking blessings of the deities.
Hundreds of devotees had spent the entire night on the Grand Road (Badadanda) braving the chilly weather waiting in the queue to enter the templeas soon as its door opened during the day.
This year, anticipating the presence of huge devotees for the new year, the administration has increased the length of barricades. The entry into barricades began from the Municipal market square about one km from Simhadwar.
Many visitors were seen taking rest at the newly introduced air-conditioned shed within the barricades. The 84 metre shed along the one km long barricades has a provision to accommodate three to four thousand devotees during the period when darshan of the deities remain closed for observance of rituals.
Scores of volunteers were seen distributing drinking water bottles among the resting devotees.
The devotees have adhered to the advice of the chief administrator who had appealed to them to maintain self discipline and wear dresses suitable for temple visit.
Temple employees were engaged to sensitise devotees at the Simhadwar temple entry point for the last two months regarding its enforcement from January 1. Not a single devotee was, however, seen violating it.
Subhendu Ray, a devotee from Chhatisgarh, after having a glimpse of the deiies, said he had learnt about the AC shed corridor for devotees from media reports and is delighted to experience the arrangements.
“I have visited many shrines and never came across such arrangements,” he said.
Jagannath temple chief administrator (SJTA) Ranjan Kumr Das said “We have emphasised on timely observance of rituals to facilitate darshan of deities by more devotees”.
He said the temple doors were opened by12.42 am and devotees were allowed inside the temple through a barricade.
After priests performed Mangal Arati, Mailum, Tadap Lagi and Abakash nitees of the deities and offered Gopal bhog, the darshan of the holy Trinity was allowed by 12.55am which continued with interim intervals when darshn was closed for rituals, he said.
During those periods devotees within barricades take rest in the AC shed . Devotees were allowed inside in batches. The barricade has ten lines of devotees. Every hour about 18 to 20 thousand devotees were entering the temple, the Das said.
A special arrangement was put in place to facilitate entry of weak, old, children and differently able devotees for darshan besides creation of an ambulance corridor along the Badadanda, he added.
About 82 platoons of police force were deployed for the smooth management of the pilgrims, and other tourists who have descended in Puri to observe the new year, said Puri Superintendent of Police K.Vishal Singh.
District Collector Samarth Verma and other senior officers of the temple were looking after the arrangements. Many VIPs and dignitaries have visited the temple passing through the barricades.
Scores of lifeguards were deployed on the Puri beach to prevent drowning while four police aid posts were set up to help visitors besides patrolling units, informed Singh.
Apart from Jagannath temple similar rush has been noticed at Mangala temple at Kakatpur, Siruli Mahavir, Siddha Mahavir and other shrines.
This apart, picnicers are seen camping at various spots along the Puri Konark Marine drive road and Puri Satpara (chilika lake) road.
