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The recent opening of all four gates of the Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, was a significant event for the state's new BJP government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The move fulfilled a key election promise made by the party, which had campaigned on the issue of reopening the gates, which had been closed for four years under the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.
The Jagannath temple is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in India and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Vishnu. It is one of the four chardhams, the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus, and thus sees a heavy footfall of devotees. The four gates of the temple are located on the mid-points of its boundary wall and face the four cardinal directions. They are named after different animals: the Singhadwara (Lion's Gate), the Hastidwara (Elephant Gate), the Aswadwara (Horse Gate), and the Vyaghradwara (Tiger Gate).
The BJD government had closed three of the four gates in 2018 as part of a major renovation project, the Srimandir Parikrama, which involved the development of a 75-metre-long heritage corridor around the temple. However, the project was delayed, and the gates remained closed even after the corridor was inaugurated earlier this year. This led to massive queues at the only remaining open gate, the Singhadwara, and calls for the reopening of the other gates.
The BJP, which recently wrested control of Odisha from the 24-years long incumbent BJD, had made the reopening of all four gates a key election issue. The party accused the BJD government of becoming a 'barrier' between the temple gods and their devotees and even linked the gates' closure to Odia asmita (Odia pride).
As elections drew nearer, Union Home Minister Amit Shah repeatedly said in public meetings that the BJP would open all four entrances 'within hours' of assuming power. The party even included this in its manifesto. And the party made good on this promise. Majhi visited the temple on Thursday early morning, along with all his ministers, a number of MLAs, Puri MP Sambit Patra, and other senior BJP leaders. He also announced the creation of a Rs 500-crore corpus for the safety, security, and beautification of the Jagannath temple.
The opening of all four gates of the Jagannath temple is a significant victory for the BJP and a fulfillment of a key election promise. It is also a symbolic gesture, which has been welcomed by many Odias, who see it as a restoration of their pride and a reaffirmation of their religious identity.