Orissa High Court: Queried Puri District Administration About Steps Taken For Crowd Management At Alarnath Temple During ‘Anasara Darshan’

The Orissa High Court in the case Madhusudan Pujapanda v. State of Odisha & Ors observed and has ordered that the Puri District administration to file the affidavit pointing out the steps taken for crowd management and the arrangements which are made of smooth and hassle-free ‘anasara darshan’ of Lord Alarnath which is starting from 05.05.2023 and which in the case is slated to continue for upcoming two weeks.
The vacation bench comprising of Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Murahari Sri Raman in the case observed wherein the court was hearing the PIL moved seeking proper crowd management, arrangement of Darshan from Argali (space connected to narrow strip of Sanctum Sanctorum) by providing facilities and maintaining law and order for the huge crowd gathering at the Alarnath Temple, Brahmagiri during anasara.
However, Alarnath Temple being the Hindu Temple which is located in Brahmagiri, Puri which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Thus, the same gets hugely crowded with devotees after the ‘Snana Purnima’ as devotees are not allowed to have darshan of Lord Jagannath in Puri temple.
Therefore, the court observed that after the ceremonial bath on the eve of ‘Snana Purnima’, the deities Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra, the three siblings are believed to be down with fever and they reside in ‘Anasara Ghara’, a place where the deities take treatment for fever, in Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri for two weeks before the Ratha Yatra i.e., the Car Festival.
The court in the case also observed that during the said period, which is properly known as Anasara’ or ‘Anavasara’, which means no opportunity to see the Lord of Puri, devotees believe that Lord Jagannath manifested himself as Lord Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath temple. Thus, it is also believed that the devotees can avail the same blessings and fortune of Jagannath darshan by having the darshan of Lord Alarnath.
The court in its order stated that the State Counsel in the case to obtain instruction in the matter and file an affidavit indicating steps taken by the District Administration for crowd management and arrangement for smooth darshan of the deity which was commenced on June, 05, 2023 and the same is likely to be continued for two weeks. Thus, the said court is to take the Instruction shall also be taken regarding the provision made for safe and smooth entry into and exit from the temple, so also the regulatory measure is to be taken by the temple administration/committee and also by the District Administration.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter to be next heard for further consideration May 08, 2023.
The counsel, Advocate Mr. Laxmidhar Dash appeared for the petitioner.
The counsel, Addl. Govt. Advocate, Mrs. Suman Pattnaik represented
the State