Puri Heritage Corridor Project

In News

• Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has written about the potential threats of the Puri Heritage Corridor project.

Issues Raised

• Structural threat: 
  • The scale at which the process is underway, can pose potential threats to structural safety of the Puri Jagannath Temple. 
• Flaunting AMASR Act:
  • Under the The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, any new construction within 100 metres of a temple are prohibited. 
  • But for the Puri Heritage Corridor project, the National Monument Authority has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the state government for the construction of a cloakroom, a shelter pavilion, three toilets, an electrical room and a pavement within the prohibited 75-metre zone.

Puri Heritage Corridor Project

• The Puri Heritage Corridor Project was unveiled in December 2019.
• The objective is to transform the holy town of Puri into an international place of heritage. 
• The project is a part of the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme for developing Puri as a world-class heritage city.

Jagannath Temple

• About:
  • Located in the State of Odisha.
  • Built in: 12th Century AD by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
  • Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna.
  • It is one of the Dhammas (Holiest of the holy place) out of four Dhamas i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar, in India.
  • This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).
• Architectural Features:
  • The entire temple complex is enclosed within two concentric walls, the Kuruma Bheda (Inner wall) and the Meghnad Pachira (Wall).
  • There are four gates to the temple- 
    • Eastern ‘Singhdwara’ which is the main gate with two crouching lions, 
    • Southern ‘Ashwadwara’, 
    • Western ‘Vyaghra Dwara‘ and 
    • Northern ‘Hastidwara’.
  • The main entrance to the temple is through Singhadwara located on the Eastern Front of the temple with three other entrances along with the four cardinal directions.
  • The Nilachakra – Or the Blue wheel perched on top of the temple is made of eight metals or ashtadhatu.
  • The Aruna stambha– the 33 ft monolith structure pillar in front of the Singhadwar or the main entrance of the temple was originally located at the Sun Temple, Konark.
• Festivals associated:
  • Devasnana Purnima: Annual bathing ritual, where the holy trinity is brought out from their sanctum seated in a raised platform and bathed with purified water drawn from a well within the temple premises.
  • Chariot Festival: This happens during the month of June/July. During the festival, the Lord comes out to the street to greet his devotees, people irrespective of caste, creed & colour can seek his blessings.

Source: IE