Current news:

=> The SC will pronounce its judgement on the project today.

Puri Heritage Corridor:

=> Proposed by Odisha government in 2019.

=> The project aims to transform the holy town of Puri into an international place of heritage.

=> The project includes redeveloping major portions of the holy town Puri and in the vicinity of the Jagannath temple for visitors and tourists.

Issues associated with the project:

=> The Puri Corridor Project ran into controversy when government agencies dug huge pits within 100 m from the temple boundary categorised as protected zone allegedly without prior permission from Archeological Survey of India.

=> Many petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against Puri Heritage Corridor project for causing damage to the temple complex.

Puri Jagannath Temple:

=> The Jagannath Temple in Puri was called the “White Pagoda”.

Note- Konark Temple of Sun is known as Black Pagoda

=> Jagannath Puri temple is also 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.

=> The temple is a part of Char Dham (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram) pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to make in one’s lifetime.

=> The idol of Jagannatha is made of wood.

=> The temple was constructed in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

Puri Jagannath Temple Rath Yatra:

=> The idol of Jagannatha is made of wood.

=> The temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra or Chariot festival, in which the three principal deities (Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra) are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.

=> The festival honours the Lord Jagannath’s visit along with his siblings to the temple of Queen Gundicha, the place of their aunt’s house where they revel in a nine day stay.

By: ASRAF UDDIN AHMED