Puri, Oct. 3 (UDN): Women planning to observe the month-long Kartika Brata in Puri can apply for the Odisha government’s Habishyali scheme from October 6, with the district administration making arrangements for accommodation, darshan and Mahaprasad.
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The online registration process will begin at 10 am on October 6 and remain open until all 2,500 available seats are filled.
The Kartika Brata observance will be held from October 26 to November 24 this year.
Applications Only Through Online Portal
Eligible women from all 30 districts of Odisha can apply through the government’s official e-District portal. Since the number of seats is limited, registration will close as soon as the 2,500-seat capacity is reached.
The administration has also decided to give priority to new applicants this year.
Who Can Apply?
The scheme is open to:
Widowed women up to 70 years of age
Married women between 50 and 70 years
Applicants must be physically and mentally fit to observe the Kartika Brata.
Free Stay, Darshan and Mahaprasad
Under the scheme, accommodation for the selected Habishyalis has been arranged at three locations in Puri — Brundabati Niwas, the Municipal Kalyan Mandap and the Railway Tourist Complex.
Beneficiaries will receive free accommodation, along with special arrangements for darshan at Srimandir and free Abadha Mahaprasad during their stay.
Volunteers will assist the beneficiaries with accommodation and help ensure smooth movement during temple darshan.
Administration Steps Up Preparations
The Puri district administration said preparations have been completed through coordination among different government departments.
Puri ADM Sarat Chandra Behera said officials would be deployed at the accommodation centres as well as during the beneficiaries’ temple visits. Volunteers from organisations including St John Ambulance and the Red Cross will also assist the administration.
While special arrangements are being made for the 2,500 registered beneficiaries, the administration is also working on arrangements for darshan for other elderly and local Habishyalis visiting Puri during Kartika Brata.
With the month-long religious observance approaching, authorities are focusing on accommodation, security, crowd management and hassle-free darshan for devotees.
