1. The Odisha government declares a holiday on January 17 for the Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor inauguration.
2. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announces the closure of schools, colleges, and government offices for devotees’ participation.
3. The grand opening event in Puri is anticipated to draw significant public attendance.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 15: The Odisha government has declared a holiday on January 17 for all educational institutions and state government offices in light of the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project in Puri.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced on Sunday, emphasizing that schools, colleges, and government offices will remain closed to allow devotees to participate in the grand opening event.
Anticipating a massive influx of devotees to witness the historic inauguration, the government has taken this step to facilitate public participation in the event.
Rituals for the grand opening of the Heritage Corridor project began in Puri on Friday, marking the commencement of a series of sacred ceremonies.
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, revered as the ‘King of Puri,’ extended invitations to priests for the ‘Maha Yajna,’ which commenced with the placement of an ‘Akhand Deepa’ on Monday.
The elaborate Maha Yajna, led by 108 Sotriya Bramhins, will conclude with the offering of Purnahuti by Gajapati in the presence of Chief Minister Patnaik on January 17.
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Following the religious ceremonies, Chief Minister Patnaik is scheduled to walk through the Heritage Corridor and officially dedicate it to the public.
He will also address the devotees gathered for this auspicious occasion. The grand opening event has attracted the participation of several dignitaries, including the Sankaracharayas of the traditional four mutts and the King of Nepal.
Given the anticipated footfall of lakhs of devotees in the holy city, stringent security measures have been put in place. The 12th-century shrine and the surrounding area will be under a five-tier security blanket during the event.
To manage traffic and ensure security arrangements, 66 platoons of the police force will be deployed in the city on the day of the inauguration.
The Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project holds immense cultural and religious significance, and its inauguration is expected to be a landmark event.
The holiday declaration reflects the government’s commitment to facilitating public participation and ensuring the smooth conduct of the ceremonies surrounding this historic occasion.
As devotees from across the region converge in Puri to witness the grand opening, the Heritage Corridor stands poised to become a symbol of cultural preservation and spiritual significance in the heart of Odisha.
