Puri: The newly-constituted Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Wednesday formed a sub-committee headed by the Puri collector for implementation of Dhadi Darshan (queue system) at Natamandap (inner sanctum area) of the 12th-century shrine in Odisha’s pilgrim town.
Speaking to the media, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator, Arabinda Padhee, informed that 14 sub-committees have been formed to advise the core Managing Committee on the governance and administration of different temple matters. While committee member Girish Murmu will head the new sub-committee on security and 4 others among them are statutory, which will deal with finance, rituals, Ratna Bhandar and appeal.
On Dhadi Darshan, Padhee said: “The managing committee has approved implementation of the proposed queue system at the shrine on an experimental basis. A nine-member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Puri Collector for the purpose. It will assess the plan from all angles and hold detailed discussions with all stakeholders. The focus will be on ensuring that ramps and barricades to be installed in no way hamper smooth conduct of the rituals.”
The committee will hold discussions with sevayats and Nijogs, which have expressed apprehension over loss of income due to the system. “The committee will give suggestions on the same. It will also finalise a standard operating procedure for implementation of Dhadi Darshan at Natyamandap with air-conditioning. Though I cannot give the exact date on which it will begin, the SOP will pave the way for it,” he said.
Last month, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan had announced that the queue system would begin on September 15. Implementation of Dhadi Darshan has been pending since January this year owing to the absence of the managing committee, which has to approve removal of the ‘hundi’ from Natyamandap.
The meeting chaired by committee chairman Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb also discussed smooth darshan for devotees, especially Divyangs, and welfare measures for the sevaks. “The security of the temple was discussed at length and we have formed a new sub-committee which will be headed by the former LG of Jammu and Kashmir,” Padhee added.