BHUBANESWAR, India – Amid the raging debate on whether non-Hindus should be allowed inside the Jagannath temple in Puri, the state government is mulling to construct a replica of the shrine to give a feel of the temple to non-Hindu tourists.
The state-run Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) is planning to construct the miniature Jagannath temple on the land of Jagannath Ballav mutt, about half a kilometer from the real abode of Lord Jagannath in Puri.
“The details of the miniature temple would be drawn up soon. We would also seek the opinion of priests of Jagannath temple and shrine body before finalizing the plan,” OTDC executive engineer J K Das said. “Since non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, they can get a feel of the temple at the proposed lookalike,” Das said.