All four gates of the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Thursday were opened for devotees for the first time since 2020. This was in line with the poll promise of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which came to power in Odisha this month after 24 years of rule by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and his council of ministers were present at the temple when the gates were opened, a day after the swearing-in ceremony.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Jagannath Temple Administration closed all four gates of the 12th-century monument. Later, only the Singhadwara (Lion Gate) was opened for devotees. The Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), Vyagra Dwara (Tiger Gate) and Hasti Dwara (Elephant Gate) remained closed till Thursday, creating difficulties for devotees. The BJP had promised in its election manifesto that it would open the remaining gates if it came to power. One devotee said the gates should have been opened long ago. "We are happy that the new government has kept its promise." At his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Majhi cited crowding and inconvenience to devotees and said all four gates would be opened on Thursday. "It was a decision to ensure smooth conduct of pilgrimage," he said. Announcing an outlay of Rs 500 crore for the temple, Majhi said sufficient funds had not been allocated for its maintenance, beautification and restoration. The Jagannath Temple has emerged as a key issue in the just-concluded elections. The BJP has raised the issue of the keys to the temple's Ratna Bhandar (treasure house) going missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party have promised to inform the public about the condition of the treasures in the Ratna Bhandar, which had not been inspected for 40 years.
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June 13, 2024 at 11:23AM
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