PURI, Aug 30 : The Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Friday approved a staggering Rs. 413 crore annual budget for the temple for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, temple Chief Administrator Aravind Padhi said.
The Managing Committee discussed the budget and reviewed a three-member panel report on the mishap that occurred during the Pahandi of Balabhadra at the Gundicha Temple during the car festival.
Padhi told the newsmen that the committee thanked the state government for generously allocating Rs. 500 crore to the temple’s corpus fund. He noted that the temple’s revenue has increased significantly after recovering substantial amounts from the stone quarry owners.
The Chief Administrator mentioned that Rs. 975 crore was credited on Thursday and Rs. 27 crore on Friday, bringing the balance in the corpus fund to over Rs. 1,000 crore. With the Rs. 500 crore assistance from the state government, the total corpus fund of the Sri Jagannath Temple has surpassed Rs. 1,500 crore, he added.
The Managing Committee also discussed the report from the three-member panel on the Pahandi mishap and decided not to accept the report. The committee instructed the panel to reinvestigate, pinpoint the cause of the incident, and identify those involved in the mishap. It also requested a review of the video recordings made by the temple administration and footage from the live broadcast, and to interview eyewitnesses regarding the incident.
The proposal for air conditioning the Natamandap and gold plating the gates of both the Ratna Bhandaras was approved at the meeting, Padhi said.
A landmark decision was made in the meeting to provide elevation near the Baharkath to allow devotees a clear view of the deities. The temple administration has prepared a plan for this after consulting with engineers. A separate queue will be established for elderly devotees, children, and the differently abled, the temple Chief Administrator said.
All these changes will be implemented without disrupting the daily rituals of the deities, he added.
The committee members emphasized the importance of having experienced servitors tie the Chhateni rope on the Chena pattas of the deities and limiting the number of servitors participating in the Pahandi on each chariot during the car festival.
The Chief Daita servitors of the three chariots (Badagrahis), in consultation with other Nijogs and the Chhatisha Nijog, will determine the exact number of servitors needed for the Pahandi on the three chariots.
To prevent unauthorized persons from being on the chariots, a senior officer, either an Executive Magistrate or a member of the police/temple security, along with other servitors, will inspect the chariots after the Pahandi and before the pulling of the chariots.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been requested to conduct the proposed geophysical laser scanning of the Ratna Bhandar at the earliest. After this, repairs and conservation work to stabilize the structure will begin. “We have requested ASI and are awaiting a formal reply,” the Chief Administrator said.
He also mentioned that the Sri Jagannath Temple will launch its own FM channel soon. The Odisha Space Applications Centre (ORSAC) will conduct a digital survey of the temple’s landed property, and all the land documents and records of the temple will be digitized. The donation cells will be strengthened, Padhi said.
The committee passed proposals to provide financial incentives to servitor community sportsmen who often excel in wrestling and bodybuilding. In addition, a proposal for scholarships for meritorious students from the servitor community seeking higher education was approved.
The temple administrator also said that the district collector had submitted a report to the state government about the stock of 14,000 quintals of Arpan rice collected during the inauguration of Srimandir Parikrama and is waiting for government instructions in this regard. (UNI)
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