BHUBANESWAR: With a few days left for Rath Yatra, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has completed the structural development of Gundicha temple, which gets thousands of devotees during the nine-day sojourn of the Holy Trinity.
While the temple’s capital columns and beams have been renovated, the floor of the Nakachana Gate has been replaced with polished khondalite stones for servitors’ convenience during Pahandi of the deities. During inspection of the Gundicha temple in October last year, the technical committee of SJTA had found wide cracks in four capital columns and as many beams in its Natamandap.
The damaged stone columns and beams have been renovated and reinforced with stainless steel to secure the Natamandap. The roof of the Natamandap has also been repaired. Gundicha temple remains closed throughout the year and opens only during Rath Yatra. Apart from the Natamandap, the Gundicha temple complex comprises a Vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), Jagamohana (assembly hall) and Bhoga Mandap. Unlike the Sri Jagannath temple which is under the care of the ASI, the Gundicha temple is looked after by the temple administration.
Srimandir managing committee member Durga Dasmohapatra informed that the floor near Nakachana Gate (the path through which the deities are taken inside the temple during Pahandi) has also been replaced. The Daitapati Nijog had for the last three years been demanding replacement of the existing cement path with a khondalite one. “The old path was made of cement which got damaged over the years making it difficult for the devotees to carry out Pahandi during Rath Yatra and Bahuda. This year, the path has been relaid with khondalite stones,” he informed.
Regarding Rath Yatra arrangements, he said this year two counters will be opened at Gundicha temple to sell Paramanik tickets to avert devotees rush. At Sri Jagannath temple, Paramanik darshan has been stopped since 2016 following ban on entry of devotees inside the sanctum sanctorum.
For general devotees, Sahana Mela will be allowed in the morning after ‘abakas’ for one hour during which they will be permitted inside the sanctum sanctorum to offer prayers to the deities from close quarters.