Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday unveiled the Shree Mandir Parikrama Prakalpa (SMPP), a massive peripheral development project around Puri’s 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple.
Mr. Patnaik reached Puri at the end of three days of rituals performed at the temple, presided over by Puri’s titular king Dibyasingh Dev.
Zone-wise development
The 75-metre-wide space encircling the temple, known as the heritage corridor, has now been named the SMPP and divided into nine different zones. First, the SMPP has a 7-metre green buffer zone, adjacent to the Meghanada Pacheri, or the boundary of the temple. This is followed by the 10-metre Antar Pradakshina, which allows space for ceremonial processions of the deities throughout the year; it also doubles as a parikrama path, inviting the general public to undertake a circumambulation of the sacred Shree Mandira complex.
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There is a 14-metre landscape zone where a garden showcases a variety of trees integral to Jagannatha culture. An 8-metre Bahya Pradakshina lets visitors spend some time in quietness and contemplation. A 10-metre public convenience zone has nine restrooms, drinking water facilities, two information-cum-donation kiosks, and three mini cloakrooms, apart from a police kiosk. There is also a shaded footpath, and a dedicated emergency lane.
Outreach programme
In the run-up to January 17, the State government had organised a massive outreach programme, with Arpan Raths taken out in every village to promote, preserve and protect Jagannath culture through people’s participation.
Big screens were put up at gram pacnhayats and block headquarters to broadcast the event live. The State government also facilitated buses to bring people from the gram panchayats to Puri to witness the inauguration.
Before unveiling the project, Mr. Patnaik appealed to people to join the celebration by watching the proceedings live at their respective places. “In the words of Puri King Dibyasingh Dev, the monumental SMPP marks a historic moment, unprecedented in the past 700 years around the Shree Jagannath Temple. This calls for celebration among all Odias, a day of collective pride and devotion,” he said. Tight security cover was provided in and around the temple town of Puri due to the congregation of a huge crowd.
