KEREDAGARH JAGANNATH TEMPLE Barrier separates devotees from Trinity

Even as preparations are in full swing for the annual Rath Yatra at the centuries-old Jagannath temple in Keredagarh under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district, a sense of deprivation and sadness prevails among the devotees for the past 19 years when an iron barrier was placed at the Singha Dwar (main gate) of the temple following a dispute over darshan.

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According to sources, many people have called for the removal of the physical barrier to seamless entry of devotees to the temple and smooth darshan of the deities.

Every year, a large number of devotees flock to the shrine to witness the annual Car Festival. However, the bitter reality still looms. The Singha Dwar, once a welcoming gateway for devotees, now remains shut. Entry into the temple is barred, and offerings cannot be made directly to the deity. Worshippers can do little more than bow at the iron railing.