Demand for developing Jagannath temple into a tourist spot gains ground

Mail News Service

Seraikela, Dec 7: The demand to declare the ancient Jagannath temple of Seraikela a tourist spot is growing stronger. A delegation of the Jagannath Mandir Seva Samiti will soon meet the deputy commissioner of Seraikela-Kharsawan district to press for the demand to develop the temple campus into a tourist attraction.

The move comes in the wake of a recent meeting held by the district tourism coordination committee. Members of the committee had decided to develop several spots in the district as tourist attractions. However, the Jagannath temple did not figure in the list of chosen tourist spots.

The temple committee members said that the temple is very old and is a unique example of temple architecture and cultural heritage. It is one of the most imposing temple structures in Jharkhand and is connected to the region’s arts, language, culture and religion, the committee members said. They added that the Rath Yatra of this Jagannath temple is popular among devotees across the state and people from India visit the temple around the year to offer prayers.

President of the Jagannath Mandir Seva Samiti, Raja Singh Deo, said that the temple has been neglected by the local administration and civic body. “About a decade back the then deputy commissioner of the district had sanctioned funds for the repair and restoration of the ancient temple. Since then the temple has not received any help from the district administration. Even the approach road to the temple is in an extremely poor condition.”

He added that the Jagannath Mandir Seva Samiti, with help of the devotees and local residents, organizes the Rath Yatra, and takes care of other expenses like temple repair and maintenance. “We will approach the district administration and the state government to press for the temple to be declared as a state tourism site.”