Argus News - Jagannath Temple to Open at 2AM for Next One Month

Puri, Dec 13: The Jagannath Temple in Puri will open its doors from 2 am for a month as part of the approved Pahili Bhoga ritual schedule, following consent from the Chhatisha Nijog and SJTA's sub-committee.

According to the decision, from December 16 to January 13, the temple gates will open to devotees at 2 am in view of the Pahili Bhoga ritual, while Ratri Pahuda (temple closing) will be observed by 11 pm. The ritual calendar also confirms that the Debabhishek Purnima Suna Besha will be held on January 3.

The Makara Sankranti rituals scheduled for January 14, 2026, have also been finalised. In view of the expected heavy crowd on New Year’s Day, temple authorities have decided that Pahuda will be observed before 11 pm on December 31. The temple gates will reopen later at night to facilitate darshan, allowing devotees gathered on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to have darshan in an orderly manner.

A sub-committee comprising servitors will oversee crowd management, with coordination among the temple administration, district administration and volunteers to ensure smooth darshan. Separate arrangements have been approved for persons with disabilities, who will be allowed darshan through the northern gate. Discussions were also held on facilitating orderly darshan for local residents of Puri.

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Meanwhile, servitors expressed satisfaction over ongoing arrangements at the Gundicha Temple. Darshan inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum will remain suspended until conservation work is fully completed, after which normal darshan will resume.