Amid name row with Bengal, Odisha launches ‘Jagannath Dham' app for Puri shrine visitors
Bhubaneswar: Govt on Friday launched an official mobile application titled 'Shree Jagannatha Dham' for the Jagannath Temple, a move that comes amid the ongoing debate over the Digha shrine's nomenclature.
"The application provides information about ritual schedules, queue waiting duration, Rath Yatra preparations and other special events. Additional functionalities are being developed and will be added in future updates," Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain told TOI.
He explained that selecting 'Jagannath Dham' as the application's name reflects the sentiments of Jagannath devotees, who consider Puri as the original 'Jagannath dham' among the 'char dhams' in India.
"The application's name was chosen because Puri represents the genuine Jagannath dham," Swain said.
A controversy had erupted on April 30 when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had designated the newly-constructed Jagannath Temple in Digha as 'Jagannath Dham', drawing sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from Odisha.
Regarding the timing of the launch, he highlighted the upcoming Rath Yatra celebration on June 27.
According to the district collector, the application will continue to operate beyond Rath Yatra festival, with additional features planned specifically for the event. Users can locate public facilities, temples and navigate different routes to their desired destinations.
"During other times, the application will serve as a tourist guide in Puri, providing information about daily ritual timings, darshan schedules, Mahaprasad availability, and donation procedures at the shrine. Users can also find nearby religious sites, accommodation options and other facilities through the application. We will include a grievance redressal feature soon," Swain said.
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