Amid Ram Mandir inauguration, Naveen Patnaik's Jagannath Heritage push in Odisha

Only five days before the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to unveil the Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project on January 17. In a shared by the state's Chief Minister's Office, Naveen Patnaik appealed to the people to light diyas, blow conch shells, offer prayers and perform kirtan on the day of the inauguration.

Jagannath Temple is one of the four dhammas that every Hindu is advised to visit. Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, along with sister Devi Subhadra and elder brother Mahaprabhu Shri Balabhadra, are worshipped in Puri (the Purusottama Kshetra). Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project is 'unique': 5 Key Facts 'Shree Mandir Parikrama' also called Jagannath Heritage Corridor Project of Lord Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri will be .

The project was completed by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC) and handed over to the temple administration Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). "...on the 15th, 16th and 17th January, there is going to be the 'Pratishtha Yagya' and the 'Lokarpana' of the entire project...On the 17th, CM will unveil the plaque of the project and the 'Purnahuti' will take place," said erstwhile king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb.

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Ranjan Kumar Das told PTI a large number of dignitaries, including ministers, political leaders and ‘sants’ are likely to attend the event. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has invited representatives from 90 religious shrines and institutions across the country to attend the mega function on January 17.

Patnaik said the project aims at facilitating the common people to undertake the and secured way. BJD MP Amar Patnaik called the project unique and said "the pilgrims will now get a kind of spiritual experience, which they have not experienced before". He said, “And this would also give them an opportunity to spend more time meditating or connecting with the lord, and that is the main purpose of this project..." As a part of the 800 crore project, 800 metres around the 12th century Jagannath temple has been redeveloped, news agency PTI reported.

No changes have been made in the temple. The project includes parking places, Shree Setu (a bridge), pilgrimage centres, a new road to facilitate the movement of pilgrims, toilets, clock rooms, electrical works and other visitors' amenities, news agency . Sri Setu (bridge), Shri Jagannath Ballav Parking, Shri Marg (road) and other projects are almost ready, an official told PTI.

The 800 crore project will ensure expansive, unobstructed corridors around the Meghanada Pacheri (outer wall) of the Jagannath temple and will provide the devotees excellent visual connection with the 12th century shrine. The project is one component of a massive initiative worth over 4,000 crore to transform Puri into a world heritage city, another official said..