By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Amid hymns chanted by priests of Shrotriya brahmin community, reverberating entire holy pilgrimage, the Puri Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb laid foundation stone of Srimandir Parikrama project in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the last day of 3-day Mahayajna at the 12th century old Jagannatha Temple in Puri in eastern Indian State of Odisha.
5T secretary VK Pandian and SJTA Chief Administrator, Dr Krishan Kumar coordinated the entire function with Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra guiding the entire administration in right time to finish it as per schedule.
“Jay Jagannath! Today is a historic day for all Jagannath Bhakts all over the world and indeed a sacred day for the people of Odisha,” Patnaik told media.Prior to foundation stone laying ritual, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated 10 persons, who have donated their land adjacent to Srimandir for the project, on the special occasion.
Parikrama, a sprawling seven lane separate pathway for devotees and deities to have a green corridor around the Meghanad prachir of Srimandir, said a senior officer.
The Parikrama will have a reception hall to accommodate six thousand devotees. It will have a huge clock room (500 sq.metres) for devotees to keep their belongings.
Separate toilets complexes for servitors, men and women devotees will be constructed. Apart from these ATM counters, pilgrim information counters, police posts to provide security to pilgrims and first aid centres will operate at all the temple gates.
A miniature model of the Parikrama project will be put on display for devotees. On the occasion land owners and Mahantas who have given their land for the heritage corridor and parikrama project will be felicitated by the chief minister.
Mutt buildings and other religious places adjoining Parikrama will be given a face lift and developed. The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs.331.28 crore. The TATA project has been entrusted to execute the project within 18 months, officials said.
