In a recent development that has sparked emotional reactions among devotees, the iron fencing around the Aruna Stambha, located in front of the Jagannath Temple (Srimandir) in Puri, has been removed and replaced with brass barricades.
The new setup, however, prevents devotees from touching the sacred pillar, a tradition many consider deeply spiritual and auspicious.
The Aruna Stambha, a historic monolithic pillar, holds significant religious importance and is often the first point of reverence for many pilgrims before they enter the temple. The brass barricades now create a physical distance between the pillar and the devotees, limiting traditional forms of offering prayers.
While authorities have cited security and crowd management reasons for the change, the move has not gone down well with devotees, several of whom expressed disappointment and emotional distress, saying the tactile connection with the Aruna Stambha was an integral part of their spiritual journey.
Temple administration officials are yet to release a formal statement addressing the concerns raised by devotees.
