PURI: The historic Gundicha Temple reopens for devotees in Puri from today, September 30, after remaining closed while development and improvement work was carried out inside the temple premises.
The reopening will allow devotees to enter the shrine and have darshan of the Chaturddhamurti at the Janmabedi and Adapa Mandap, providing pilgrims an opportunity to visit the temple beyond the annual Rath Yatra period.
The decision was taken by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) following the completion of major development work at the shrine. The administration had earlier inspected the premises and reviewed the arrangements required before allowing devotees to enter.
Gundicha Temple Reopens After Development Work
The Gundicha Temple has remained closed to devotees for an extended period while repair and development activities were undertaken. Earlier this month, SJTA officials said most of the work had been completed and the remaining arrangements were being finalised.
Among the preparations were the installation of CCTV cameras at different locations and arrangements connected with donation counting. Facilities have also been planned to make darshan more accessible to differently-abled devotees, particularly at the Adapa Mandap.
The reopening marks a significant change for devotees who traditionally associate the Gundicha Temple with the annual Rath Yatra and the stay of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra at the Janmabedi.
During the Rath Yatra, the Holy Trinity reaches the Gundicha Temple as part of the annual journey from Srimandir. The deities are taken inside the temple for the Adapa Mandap rituals before returning to the main temple during the Bahuda Yatra.
Darshan Arrangements at Gundicha Temple
The temple administration has also made arrangements intended to facilitate the movement of devotees inside the premises.
According to earlier information released by the temple administration, an entry fee of ₹10 was planned after the initial reopening period, while senior citizens and children would be exempted. Free facilities for keeping footwear and mobile phones were also announced.
The reopening also gives devotees an opportunity to experience the sacred premises associated with the Janmabedi outside the limited period of Rath Yatra.
For pilgrims visiting Puri, the development is particularly significant as Gundicha Temple occupies an important place in the religious traditions surrounding Lord Jagannath and the annual Rath Yatra.
With the Gundicha Temple reopens today, devotees can now visit the shrine and have darshan at the Janmabedi and Adapa Mandap following the completion of the development work.
