Volunteers assist Divyang devotees

Dhenkanal: During the Suna Besha and Niladri Bije rituals, volunteers from the Bajrang Club in Dhenkanal ensured that Divyang devotees could comfortably experience the divine ‘darshan’ of Lord Jagannath. The club provided specialised, disability-friendly tricycles and mobility support, allowing differently-abled pilgrims to move easily across the temple area and take part in the celebrations without trouble. Bajrang volunteers stepped in where the government made no arrangements, ensuring people with disabilities could still witness the sacred sight of the adorned deities.

Authorities had blocked vehicles at Rathagada market and key town entry points. However, social workers assisted the senior citizens and people with disabilities. They provided disabled-friendly electric wheelchairs to ensure everyone could comfortably experience the ‘darshan’ of the deities. The district police administration had given permission to the club to assist senior citizens and devotees with disabilities. Bajrang volunteers then escorted these individuals directly from their homes to Rathagada.

Hundreds of Divyang devotees and senior citizens had ‘darshan’ of the deities during Suna Besha, supported by happy volunteers like Nita Panda, while the attendees expressed deep gratitude for the assistance. Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee also witnessed the Suna Besha rituals. Notably, she was the first to organise the Suna Besha festival in Dhenkanal during her tenure as District Collector from 2005 to 2006.

The volunteers’ selfless work during the holy Dhenkanal festivities earned deep praise from devotees and temple authorities for showing true compassion, inclusion, and devotion.