The administration of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri has made it mandatory for devotees to adhere to a dress code in order to enter the 12th-century shrine. The dress code requires devotees to wear decent clothes and prohibits attire such as half pants, shorts, torn jeans, skirts, and sleeveless dresses. This rule came into effect on the first day of 2024, with male devotees seen wearing dhoti and towels, while women were clad in sarees or salwar kameez as they sought darshan of the deity.
In addition to the dress code, the temple administration has also banned chewing gutkha and pan, as well as the use of plastic and polythene in the shrine premises. The objective behind these restrictions is to maintain the sanctity of the temple. Those found violating these restrictions are being fined.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) previously issued an order to enforce these measures, and the police have been asked to ensure compliance. On New Year’s day, a large number of devotees thronged the seaside city to seek darshan of Lord Jagannath. The temple doors reopened at 1.40 am, and more than 180,000 devotees had already visited by noon.
To facilitate the smooth darshan of the devotees, the SJTA and police have made elaborate arrangements. An air-conditioned tensile fabric structure has been set up outside the temple, equipped with facilities such as drinking water, public toilets, CCTV cameras, public announcement systems, and sitting arrangements. Special arrangements have also been made for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Inspector General of Police of the central range, Ashish Kumar Singh, reported that the number of devotees visiting the temple on New Year’s day has nearly doubled compared to the previous year. The darshan began early in the morning and is still ongoing, with occasional pauses for rituals. So far, there have been no issues, and devotees are entering the temple through the AC shed and exiting through the north gate.
In terms of traffic restrictions, certain areas in the town have been declared no vehicle zones, while vehicles have been prohibited on the beachside road. Furthermore, the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar has also implemented a ban on the consumption of pan and tobacco products inside the premises. The use of polythene and plastics has also been prohibited in the temple, as decided by the Lingaraj Temple Trust Board.
