Modi to spend 50 minutes in Jagannath temple in Odisha

PURI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will spend around 50 minutes at the Jagannath temple in Puri during his two-day visit to Odisha.

Modi will have the darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings at the 12th-century shrine on February 7.

According to officials of Puri district administration, Prime Minister will arrive at the helipad in the holy town by an Indian Air Force chopper at 10.40 am and travel to Srimandir by road at 10.55 am.

“The prime minister will complete darshan of the deities by 11.45 am,” said additional collector Uddhav Charan Majhi.

A preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of district collector Aravind Agarwal and discussed a range of issues including renovation of the helipad for the PM’s arrival and security arrangements in the town and the temple during his visit.

Sources said the district administration has decided to open a special control room to monitor security arrangements during Modi’s visit.

SJTA sources said Modi will enter the temple through the Lions’ Gate and reach the sanctum sanctorum via Baishi Pahacha (22 steps) and the Jay-Bijay door. He is also scheduled to visit the Bimala temple and the Mahalaxmi temple on Srimandir premises.

The prime minister’s family priest, Raghunath Gochhikar, meanwhile, said he would offer a Khandua Pata to the visiting leader.

Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb, Chhatisha Niyog Nayak and the chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) will welcome the prime minister at the Lions’ Gate of the temple.