Puri: Lakhs of Devotees can have darshan of Lord Jagannath whole night on December 25 as the Puri Srimandir will remain open on account of the solar eclipse.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Chhattisa Nijog (federation of temple servitor bodies) presided over by chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Krishan Kumar at the temple office here on Wednesday.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Rajat Pratihari, secretary of Garabadu Nijog said since the solar eclipse will be on December 26, the temple will remain open the whole night on December 25 for the devotees.
When asked about the arrangements being made for the rituals in the temple for the solar eclipse, Pratihari said on December 26, partial eclipse (Khanda Grasa) will begin at 8:20:08 am and end at 11:29:10 am after which the rituals of the Lords will begin.
“Unlike other temples, where no rituals are performed during the eclipse period, special rituals of the Lords are performed in Jagannath Temple. The rituals will begin at 8:20:08 am with Grahana Mahasnana, Tadapalagi, Mailam, Mangala Alati, Abakasha, Rosa Homa, Surjya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Grahana Fekura Bhoga, Gopala Ballava, Pahili Bhoga and Sakala Dhupa,” he added.
Puri collector Balwant Singh and SP Umashankar Das were among others present at the meeting.