Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will introduce a special darshan facility for persons with disabilities to help them seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath without facing difficulties in navigating the temple premises.

The facility will be available through online slot booking on a dedicated website. Initially, the service will be launched on a trial basis, with arrangements to facilitate darshan for 20 persons with disabilities every day. An individual will be eligible to avail of the special facility only once in six months.

The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida. The facility is expected to be introduced after the holy month of Kartik.

Under the proposed arrangement, devotees will have to register online through the dedicated website. Once their booking is confirmed, they will receive a message informing them of the scheduled date for darshan.

On the appointed day, devotees will be provided assistance near the Satyanarayan Temple. Battery-operated vehicles will transport them to the North Gate of the temple, where a ramp facility will allow wheelchair users to enter the premises.

From there, volunteers will assist them up to Ghantidwara and then escort them to the Jay Bijay Dwara, from where they will have darshan of the deities. Police personnel and a medical team will also be deployed to ensure the safety and well-being of the devotees during the process.

Collector Dibyajyoti Parida said the special facility would not be available on days when the temple witnesses heavy crowds due to special rituals and religious observances. Instead, it will be provided on regular days to ensure a smoother and safer experience for devotees with disabilities.

Specific guidelines will also be followed while selecting devotees for the facility. The online registration process will begin once the dedicated website is developed.