Five-Tier Ramp Proposed for Smoother Darshan at Puri Jagannath Temple

Devotees visiting the Jagannath Temple in Puri often face difficulties during Bahara Katha darshan at the Natamandap, particularly when large crowds gather. While some devotees try to get a better view of Lord Jagannath by standing on their toes or stretching to catch a glimpse of the deity, elderly devotees and women often find the crowded arrangement physically challenging.

The situation is different when devotees enter through the barricaded queue system outside the temple. However, congestion can become a major concern from Satapahacha onward, especially during Bahara Katha darshan when large numbers of devotees move together.

To make darshan more convenient and organised, the government is now planning a new five-tier ramp system inside the temple. The proposed arrangement is aimed at allowing devotees to move in an orderly queue and provide darshan to around 8,000 to 10,000 devotees within an hour.

The proposal has received support from various sections. However, senior servitor Binayak Das Mahapatra has suggested that the system should first be implemented on a trial basis to identify and address possible shortcomings before being introduced permanently.

IIT Bhubaneswar Develops Pilot Model

A high-level meeting on the queue darshan system was held at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of the Law Minister. During the meeting, IIT Bhubaneswar presented a pilot model for improving the movement of devotees inside the temple.

Under the proposed plan, a five-tier collapsible ramp would be installed between Garuda Stambha and Bahara Katha. Each ramp would accommodate around 50 devotees at a time, with the overall system designed to facilitate darshan for 8,000 to 10,000 people every hour.

The government is planning to implement the system within three to four months. A similar proposal had reportedly been considered earlier but was put on hold due to technical issues.

With the Kartika month approaching, concerns have been raised over testing the system during a period when the temple is expected to witness a significant increase in footfall. Senior servitors have therefore urged the authorities to conduct adequate trials before full-scale implementation.

The proposed queue system has been broadly welcomed, particularly by elderly and women devotees who have long sought a more convenient and less crowded darshan experience.