Odisha Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana

The Government of Odisha under its Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana enables senior citizens and widows to undertake a free pilgrimage to the sacred Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri. The scheme covers travel, food, accommodation and other essential arrangements to ensure a safe and dignified visit.
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Introduction of Odisha Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana (SJDY): A Brief Insight

• Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Mohan Charan Majhi launched Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana (ओडिशा श्री जगन्नाथ दर्शन योजना) on 13th of February 2026.
• Odisha Government observes that due to financial inability, many people of the state face difficulty arranging their visit to Shri Jagannath Temple.
• So, with an objective to fulfil the religious desire of the senior citizens and widowed women to visit Lord Jagannath Temple, the Odisha Government launched the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana in the state.
• Tourism Department of the Odisha Government, in collaboration with other department will implement this scheme in the state.
• Odisha Government will now organise a free visit to the Lord Jagannath Temple for old and widowed devotees who belong to the economically weaker section under the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana.
• Devotees selected under this scheme will receive the benefit to go to Shri Jagannath Mandir at Puri free of cost and the expenses incurred on travelling, accommodation and food will be borne by the Odisha Government.
• Beneficiary Devotees will also receive the Mahaprasad without any cost during the visit.
• The government will also provide a kit bag to each devotee which has the following essential items in it :-
  • Toiletries.
  • Caps.
  • Fluorescent.
  • Water Bottles.
  • Souvenirs.
• Elderly persons who are in the age group of 60 to 75 years and widows not exceeding 75 years of age are eligible to visit the Lord Jagannath Temple free under the Odisha Government’s Shri Jagannath Darshan Scheme.
• A person must be physically and mentally fit for travel and free from any communicable diseases.
• Odisha Government plans to arrange the travel of 5,000 beneficiary devotees this year and 1 lakh for the next 4 years.
• The operational timeline of Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana is 31-03-2029.
• There is no need to apply separately for this scheme; the respective Gram Panchayat Executive Officer will inform the eligible beneficiaries and receive the consent form from them.
• Contact the Panchayat Executive Officer in case any help or assistance is required regarding the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana of the Government of Odisha.
• Eligible Devotees can also apply for “Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana” in which the benefit of a free visit to famous religious places will be provided.
• Beneficiaries can check the Complete List of Odisha Government Schemes Here.

Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries

• Odisha Government under its Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana (SJDY) will provide the following benefits to all eligible beneficiaries :-
  • Free of Cost Visit to Puri for Shri Jagannath Temple Darshan.
  • Free of Cost “Mahaprasad” will be provided to Devotees.
  • Expenses on Transportation, Food, and Accommodation will be borne by the Government.
  • Travelling will be arranged in AC Buses.
  • A Kit Bag of essential items will also be provided to devotees.
  • Group Health Insurance Coverage of up to Rs. 3 Lakh.

Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled

• The benefit of free of cost visit to the Lord Jagannath Temple will be provided by the Odisha Government to only those beneficiaries who fulfil the below-mentioned eligibility criteria of the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana :-
  • Permanent Resident Devotee of Odisha is Eligible.
  • Only Senior Citizens and Poor Widow Women from Economically Weaker Sections is eligible to apply.
  • The Age of the Elderly Devotee should be between 60 years to 75 years.
  • The Age of the Poor Widow Devotees should be up to 75 years.
  • Applicant should be Physically Fit and Free from Communicable Diseases.
  • Benefits of a free visit to the Lord Jagannath Temple will be provided only once.

List of Districts Eligible for Night Stay Facility at Puri

• Only beneficiaries belonging to these 21 notified districts are eligible to avail the one-night stay facility during their visit to the Jagannath Temple under the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana :-
  

  Ganjam. Gajapati. Kandhamal. Boudh. Sambalpur. Bargarh. Deogarh. Jharsuguda. Sundargarh. Balangir. Subarnapur. Angul. Koraput. Rayagada. Nabarangpur. Malkangiri. Kalahandi. Nuapada. Balasore. Keonjhar. Mayurbhanj.

List of Districts Not Eligible for Night Stay Facility at Puri

• Beneficiaries belonging to the 9 districts listed below are not eligible to avail the one-night stay facility during their visit to the Jagannath Temple under the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana :-
  

  Puri. Khordha. Cuttack. Jagatsinghpur. Dhenkanal. Kendrapada. Nayagarh. Bhadrak. Jajpur.

Documents Required to be Attached

• The following documents will be required for verification at the time of availing the benefits of free of cost to Puri for Lord Jagannath Darshan under the Government of Odisha’s Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana :-
  

  Any One Proof of Residence of Odisha :- Domicile Certificate. Voter Identity Card. Aadhaar Card. Revenue Land Record. Land Patta. Any Other Document. Death Certificate. (For Widow Applicant) Mobile Number. Emergency Contact Number. Recent Photo. Aadhaar Card of the Applicant.

How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme

• Beneficiaries do not need to apply directly online or through a separate application form to visit free of cost to Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri under the Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana of the Odisha Government.
• The Department of Tourism fixes beneficiary targets district-wise, block-wise, and Gram Panchayat-wise based on population and administrative requirements.
• The Tourism Department will obtain the list of eligible widows and senior citizens (60–75 years) from the Social Security Pension database maintained by the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department.
• The Gram Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) informs eligible beneficiaries about the Shri Jagannath Darshan Scheme’s objectives, facilities, and conditions during the monthly Social Security Pension disbursement.
• If a beneficiary wishes to undertake the pilgrimage, they must submit written consent every year in the prescribed Consent Form.
• A person who is not receiving a Social Security Pension but fulfils the prescribed eligibility criteria can submit written consent along with valid government-issued documents to prove age, domicile, and economic vulnerability to the concerned PEO for consideration under Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana.
• The Panchayat Executive Officer may ask for additional documents to verify eligibility in such cases, and the beneficiary must submit all required documents.
• Participation in the scheme remains completely voluntary, and no beneficiary is compelled to join.
• A list of Eligible Beneficiary will be prepared through the randomisation process by the Tourism Department.
• A List of Devotees selected for a free visit to Shri Jagannath Temple will then be forwarded to the Block Development Officer for further processing.
• After final verification, the final list of beneficiaries will be sent to the District Administration and the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation for arrangements of travel to Shri Jagannath Temple under the Odisha Government’s Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana.

Important Links Available

• Guidelines of Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana Odisha.
• Official Website of Tourism Department Odisha.

Contact Details in Case of Help Needed

• Contact Number of Tourism Department Odisha :-
  • 0674 2432177.
  • 0674 2431896.
• Contact Email of Tourism Department Odisha :- info@odishatourism.gov.in.

Tabassum

Tabassum is a senior content writer with 5 years of experience in creating well-researched and user-friendly content on Central and State Government schemes.