Entry System / Biometric Entry Soon for Puri Residents at Jagannath Temple

Puri, Aug 29: Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has announced that a biometric entry system will soon be introduced for residents of Puri city to access the Jagannath Temple.

“Devotees living under two postal pin codes of Puri will be required to authenticate their entry using Aadhaar along with biometric verification of eyes and fingerprints,” said the Odisha Law Minister. The move comes in response to concerns over fake Aadhaar cards.

To streamline crowd management during peak darshan hours, IIT Bhubaneswar has been roped in to design a pilot project. “Wooden platforms with six‑inch ramps will be constructed for queue management, Harichandan explained, adding: “These ramps will collapse when servitors carry offerings (bhog) inside, leaving a passage for temple rituals.”

Also read: Odisha Braces for Heavy Rain as Low Pressure Deepens

The pilot project will be implemented after approval from the Chhatisan Nijog members. Additionally, long sheds will be built along the Bada Danda to protect devotees from sun and rain during darshan.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the next phase of Ratna Bhandar counting. A preliminary meeting between servitors and temple administration has been held, focusing on security and ritual protocols.

The counting will take place on August 31 (Monday) and September 1 (Tuesday), between 4 PM and the end of Sandhya Dhupa. During this period, darshan from the inner sanctum will remain closed, though devotees can view the deities from the outer sanctum.

Officials confirmed that temple rituals will continue uninterrupted, with authorized servitors allowed entry into Jagamohan and Garbhagriha. Security will be tightened, and public access restricted during the counting hours.

The Ratna Bhandar inventory began on March 25, 2025, under state government guidelines. So far, 78 hours and 3 minutes of counting have been completed.

The process was paused during Rath Yatra and other major rituals. The upcoming phase aims to resume the systematic documentation of ornaments and valuables stored in the temple treasury.