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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Ahead of Rath Yatra, Puri's Jagannath Temple launches official app: Here's everything you can check
In a landmark blend of spirituality and technology, the Puri district administration has launched the Shree Jagannatha Dham mobile app, ushering in a new era for devotees visiting the sacred 12th-century Jagannath Temple. As religious tourism embraces digital ease, the app is designed to simplify pilgrimages by offering real-time updates, ritual schedules, and navigation tools that help devotees experience the sanctity of Puri with greater clarity and comfort. The app, unveiled by Puri Collector and District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain on Friday, comes just in time for the Rath Yatra preparations. Announcing the launch on X (formerly Twitter), Swain wrote, 'Jai Jagannath. A New App, Shree Jagannatha Dham, has been launched for the facilitation of Devotees. The services include—exact Niti status & timings, tentative waiting time at queues, arrangements for Rath Yatra and all special occasions.' — dm_puri (@dm_puri) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo About the App Swain explained that the name Jagannatha Dham was a deliberate choice, reflecting the deep-rooted sentiment that Puri is the original and most revered of India's char dhams. In an interview with TOI, he revealed that the app name was chosen because Puri represents the genuine Jagannatha Dham. The app promises to elevate the spiritual experience for pilgrims, particularly during major events like Rath Yatra. It provides details on daily ritual schedules, real-time waiting durations for temple queues, and logistical arrangements for major festivals. Swain assured that the app will not be limited to the festival season—it will function year-round as a comprehensive digital companion for tourists and devotees. Looking ahead, the district administration plans to roll out more features, including a grievance redressal section, GPS-enabled navigation to temples and public facilities, darshan schedules, Mahaprasad availability, and information on donations. The app will also help users discover nearby religious landmarks and suitable accommodation options. Users can also find the directions for their 4-wheeler and 2-wheeler parking places on the app under the tab 'Parking'.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
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. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
Puri collector, SP review Alarnath Temple security
Puri: District collector (Puri) Siddharth Shankar Swain and SP Vinit Agrawal on Tuesday reviewed the security arrangements at Alarnath Temple in Brahmagiri. As per tradition, after Snan Purnima on June 11, there will be no darshan at Jagannath Temple for 14 days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During this period, lakhs of devotees visit the Alarnath Temple for darshan. To ensure the safety of devotees, additional police forces will be deployed. Traffic arrangements, including parking, diversions and one-way traffic flow will be implemented on the roads leading to Brahmagiri. Police personnel will be stationed at every junction for traffic control. On the occasion, a coordination meeting was held between Swain, Agrawal, Alarnath temple servitors and the local administration. Puri police will also set up a 'feedback centre' on the temple premises. Senior officials, including additional SP Sushil Mishra, additional SP Deba Pratap, additional SP Soumya Ranjan Mallik, tehsildar of Brahmagiri, BDO and SDPO (Sadar) were also present.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri without governing body for 8 months
The Jagannath Temple in Puri has been without its managing committee for eight months, impacting key decisions on the 2025-26 budget BHUBANESWAR: The Jagannath Temple in Puri has been functioning without its governing body for the last eight months, impacting the shrine's administration. The principal decision-making body, an 18-member managing committee (MC) tasked with policy decisions, completed its three-year term on Sept 3, 2024. After implementing the Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954, the Odisha govt assigned the temple's daily administration to the statutory MC to ensure proper preservation and enhanced management of the temple. According to the Act, the MC must approve all decisions, from rituals to financial matters, before implementation by the govt in this 12th century shrine. Despite a senior IAS officer (chief administrator) and other govt officials overseeing the temple's daily administrative operations, the MC's absence has led to several pending crucial decisions regarding the shrine. About 10 key proposals remain unresolved, with significant ones, including the 2025-26 budget, new darshan system, and repositioning of the temple Hundi. "The temple currently operates on an interim budget, as the 2025-26 budget awaits approval due to the committee's absence," a senior temple official said. The proposed queue darshan system's implementation faces delays pending MC approval. The new system includes a six-lane ramp within wooden collapsible barricades at Natamandap, opposite the sanctum sanctorum, designed to facilitate organised darshan. It provides separate paths for men, women, and senior citizens, with plans to include differently-abled devotees. "With the Rath Yatra approaching on June 27, the MC's absence could create additional challenges. Traditionally, the MC finalises the rituals, arrangements, and guidelines for Rath Yatra annually," the official said. The shrine authorities said that while the chief administrator is currently exercising his extraordinary power under the Temple Act and handling daily management decisions, these must require subsequent post facto approval once the MC is established. "If the MC formation doesn't take place before Rath Yatra, the chief administrator will have to make decisions and obtain post facto approval later. However, he cannot take decisions involving major proposals and controversial matters," he said. Collector (Puri) and temple's deputy chief administrator Siddharth Shankar Swain said, "Due official process already started for formation of the managing committee. It is the govt's discretion to finalise the members of the committee." Recently, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told journalists: "The govt is aware of the matter and will soon constitute the temple managing committee."
