Queue system for devotees at Jagannath Temple on trial basis

Queue system will be introduced at the Jagannath temple in Puri on an experimental basis from Monday as part of the reform measures suggested by the Supreme Court.

As per the new arrangement, devotees will enter the 12th century shrine by forming a queue at the 'Singhadwara' and move inside through barricades, an official said.

After having a 'darshan' of the deities inside the temple, the devotees will exit through Uttaradwara (north gate), he said.

There will be separate barricades for men and women.

Infrastructural work for the queue system has already been initiated by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and iron railings are being installed for formation of separate lines, he said.

The decision to implement the queue system on a trial basis was taken at a meeting of the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee headed by Gajapati Maharaj of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb on Thursday, according to SJTA Chief Administrator P K Mohapatra.

The move aims at ensuring smooth and hassle-free darshan of the deities as a large number of devotees visit the temple every day, he said.

Puri district Collector Jyoti Prakash Das, who visited the temple to oversee the work underway for the new system, said necessary steps are being taken to ensure proper implementation of the queue system.

"Queue system is being started purely on trial basis and further improvements can be brought after observing how it works," he said.

Superintendent of Police, Puri, Sarthak Sarangi said the new system is being introduced on an experimental basis and if necessary, modifications may be effected later after observation for a few days.