Puri’s Jagannath Temple opened all its four gates to devotees for the first time since 2020, fulfilling a campaign pledge of the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha. The gates, closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened sporadically thereafter, were fully accessible as Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and his ministers attended the event shortly after their inauguration.
Originally closed due to the pandemic, only the Singhadwara (Lion Gate) had intermittently allowed entry, leaving devotees inconvenienced by the closure of Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), Vyaghra Dwara (Tiger Gate), and Hasti Dwara (Elephant Gate) until now. The BJP, in its election manifesto, had pledged to reopen these gates promptly upon taking office.
One devotee expressed satisfaction, noting that the gates should have reopened sooner and commending the government for fulfilling its promise.
At his inaugural Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Majhi highlighted the challenges faced by pilgrims and promptly announced the reopening of all gates to ensure smoother pilgrimage. He also allocated ₹500 crore for the temple’s management, beautification, and repairs, citing inadequate previous funding.
During the election, the Jagannath Temple became a focal point, with the BJP highlighting issues such as the missing keys to the Ratna Bhandar (treasury). Promises were made by top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to address concerns about the treasury’s unaudited valuables, untouched for four decades.