Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday launched a training and orientation programme for temple servitors, which focuses on improving communication, etiquette and coordination with devotees, especially during peak hours and festivals.
The training camp was inaugurated by SJTA’s chief administrator Arabinda Padhee, Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, and SP Vinit Agrawal. Padhee expressed gratitude to the servitor community for their cooperation and highlighted the importance of professionalism and compassion in temple service.
The training session comes in the wake of recurring complaints regarding the unruly behaviour of some temple servitors.
Padhee said that efforts are underway to streamline the darshan experience. “A few days ago, Anubhav Yatra was organised where temple servitors visit different spiritual sites to adopt best practices, aiming to make the Jagannath Temple truly exceptional,” he said.
He emphasised 10 key focus areas for temple servitors, including complete dedication to duty, maintaining law and order on the temple premises, possessing deep knowledge of rituals and traditions, and demonstrating respectful and selfless behaviour towards devotees. Senior servitors from each nijog participated in the initiative. They will train other servitors.
He further said that future sessions will include professionals specialising in behavioural science and management and coordination between temple administration and servitors.
SJTA also announced plans for follow-up programmes to monitor progress and maintain consistent standards of service in the 12th century shrine.