Puri, The Odisha government is set to host a spectacular three-day event from January 15 to 17 to mark the inauguration of the beautification project around the iconic Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Shree Mandira Parikrama Project (SMPP), costing ₹943 crore, aims to transform the 12th-century temple’s 75-meter corridor into a modern pilgrim center with state-of-the-art amenities.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik initiated the project in November 2021, emphasizing the development of the area surrounding the temple. The project includes a 7-meter green buffer zone and a 10-meter pedestrian-only inner circumambulation for devotees. It features facilities such as queue management for 6,000 devotees, baggage screening, cloakrooms, drinking water, toilets, information cum-donation kiosks, and more.
The grand inauguration will witness the participation of 857 temples in Odisha and 180 major Indian temples, including Vaishno Devi, Kamakhya Temple, and Shirdi Sai temples. Invitations will also be extended to the King of Nepal and major Hindu temples worldwide. The event will include a Lokarpan Yagna and Vedic recitations at the temple gates.
The guest list comprises VIPs, corporate leaders, and celebrities. The government has meticulously planned the event, ensuring uniform painting of buildings along the three-kilometer Grand Road connecting the Jagannath Temple and Mausima Temple. The town will be adorned with colorful lights, and extensive cleanliness measures will be implemented.
The completion of all civil works and ongoing landscaping activities indicates the project’s readiness. The strategic timing of the Jagannath temple project aligns with the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, aiming to consolidate Hindu votes. The event precedes the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22, where prominent figures, including PM Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, have been invited.
Political analysts view this initiative as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s strategy to leverage the religious sentiment and counter potential opposition challenges. The BJD’s focus on temple development and the Ama Odisha Nabeen Odisha scheme reflects a calculated approach to address religious and developmental aspects simultaneously.
