At a time when political pundits are predicting a surge in popularity for the BJP after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha is planning a grand inauguration of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project in Puri on January 17. This move is seen as a strategic maneuver to counter Narendra Modi’s Ayodhya narrative from a political perspective.
Experts believe that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has effectively taken away the BJP’s opportunity to play the religious card by focusing on the development and improvement of the Jagannath Temple and other significant shrines in Odisha. The BJD’s projects aim to enhance the beauty, convenience, and security of the 12th-century shrine.
The Chief Minister, who is seeking re-election for a sixth term, has meticulously planned a series of month-long activities starting from January 5 to create awareness about the INR 943 crore project in villages. The government has allocated a budget of INR 135 crore for these village activities, with a goal of reaching out to all 13 million households in Odisha.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) expects a footfall of approximately 500,000 people per day for about a week from January 12 when spiritual activities for the project’s inauguration begin with various rituals. Gajapati Divya Singh Deb, the scion of the Puri royal family, will be leading the grand event.
In addition to the inauguration ceremony, the Biju Janata Dal is planning a padayatra (foot march) of students, youths, and women to Puri from various places, starting on the same day. Notably, religious heads of 1,000 temples in India and Nepal, along with the four Shankaracharyas, have been invited by the temple administration.
To emotionally connect with the people, the servitors are collecting offerings of rice and betel nut from the public, a campaign that was initiated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik himself. The government plans to bring 10,000 devotees per day, with 1,000 from each of the 10 assembly seats, spending approximately INR 20 crore until it covers all 147 assembly seats in Odisha.
The Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project, announced in December 2019, aims to create a 75-meter corridor around the temple boundary, including a 7-meter green buffer zone and a 10-meter pedestrian-only circumambulation. It also includes the construction of a reception center for 6,000 devotees, a cultural center, library, Jagannath Ballav pilgrim center, and a multi-level car parking facility.
The Odisha government has also undertaken projects to improve the amenities of other significant temples in the state, such as the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, the Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur, and the Tara Tarini Temple in Berhampur.
While the BJP acknowledges the need for improving temple facilities, senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty believes that the ruling party’s attempts to gain political mileage from these projects reflect their desperation due to growing anti-incumbency. He emphasized that comparing any other project to Ayodhya would be unfair, considering the historical struggle associated with it.
On the other hand, BJD MP Manas Mangaraj explained that the Naveen government’s focus on enhancing shrines aims to boost Odisha’s rich religious and cultural heritage on an unprecedented scale.
As the grand inauguration of the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project approaches, all eyes will be on Puri and the political landscape of Odisha. The simultaneous assembly polls and the strategic moves of various parties will shape the narrative in the months to come.
