Jagannath Temple to Install VRF Cooling System in Natamandap for Devotee Comfort

Bhubaneswar: Authorities of the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri are set to install a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system at the Natamandap to improve comfort for devotees, particularly during the summer season.

The project will be executed by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) at an estimated cost of around Rs 74 lakh. The bidding process for the project has already been completed.

The VRF system will be installed in the Natamandap, the hall situated in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th-century shrine. Officials said the initiative aims to provide relief from heat and humidity, ensuring a more comfortable environment for devotees during darshan.

“The system is being introduced to enhance the overall darshan experience. Devotees will not have to face hot and humid conditions inside the temple during summer,” an SJTA official said.

In addition to this, the temple administration is also planning to introduce a ‘dhadi’ (queue) darshan system at the shrine. The system will first be implemented at the Natamandap on an experimental basis before being rolled out fully.

The move is part of ongoing efforts by the temple authorities to streamline crowd management and improve facilities for the large number of devotees visiting the shrine throughout the year.