Jagannath Puri Parikrama Prakalpa Inauguration: All You Need To Know

Puri: Scheduled for inauguration on January 17,  'Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa' or Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project at the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri comprises a 75-meter free passage around the outer walls (Meghanada Pacheri) of the shrine. With an investment of Rs 800 crore, the project aims to enhance temple security and provide basic civic amenities to devotees.

The Odisha government has planned to mobilise around 10,000 people daily for a month to visit the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project. Highlighting the smooth movement of the devotees, the Chief Secretary communicated the priority via videoconferencing on January 12. District collectors have been tasked with requisitioning an adequate number of buses for devotees' transportation, while elaborate plans at transit camps ensure their comfortable stay. Each district will appoint a nodal officer for coordination, accompanied by a dedicated control room for monitoring.

Initiating the grand opening rituals for the Sreemandir Parikrama Prakalpa, or the temple heritage corridor project, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the Maharaja of Puri, commenced festivities on January 12. Rituals included the 'Maha Yagna' initiated on January 15, with subsequent ceremonies like 'Ankuropan,' 'Ankur Puja,' and 'Yajna Adhibas' conducted in the following days.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will officially open the corridor for devotees on January 17. The event will feature a dedicated podium at Utterparswa Mutt hosting the Chief Minister's address, cultural performances, and traditional conch shell blowing.

Key points you must know about Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa:

1. Key features of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project include parking spaces, Shree Setu (a bridge), pilgrimage centers, a new road for pilgrim movement, and essential amenities like toilets, clock rooms, and electrical work. The inauguration ceremony aligns with the upcoming Ram temple coronation, reflecting efforts to enhance the aesthetic appeal and surroundings of the revered Jagannath Temple.
2. As the ceremony approaches, mega project dedication rituals, including the 'Yajna' and 'Anukra Ropana,' have commenced. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's inauguration will be overseen by Puri Gajapati Maharaj Divyasingha Deb, culminating in the final offering at the three-day yagna. Patnaik has called on people to join the January 17 celebrations, dedicating themselves to the devotion of Mahaprabhu Jagannath.
3. Representatives from around 90 religious shrines and institutions across the country will attend the inauguration ceremony. 
4. The sub-projects under the Puri Jagannath Heritage Corridor project are the redevelopment of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration building, Srimandir reception center, Jagannath cultural center, Badadanda heritage streetscape, beachfront development, Puri Lake, and revival of Musa river.
5. The Shree Mandira Parikrama Project (SMPP) included a 7-meter green buffer zone and a 10-meter pedestrian-only inner circumambulation for parikrama (clockwise circumambulation) around the temple.
6. The Odisha government has declared January 17 as a public holiday in honour of the dedication of the Shree Jagannath Parikrama project in Puri. Government offices, schools, and colleges across the state will be closed on this day.

The travel industry in Odisha is witnessing huge tourism potential with the Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa in Puri. The Naveen Patnaik-led Government said that the footfall of tourists to Puri will further increase with the inauguration of proposed Jagannath International Airport in Puri.