THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
PURI,
OCTOBER 2, 2026
The Odisha government
will host 2,500 Habishyalis in Puri during the holy month of Kartik this year,
with online registration for the annual Habishyali Yojana scheduled to begin
from October 6, an official said on Friday.
The online
application window will open at 10 am on October 6 and remain active until the
prescribed quota of 2,500 applicants is filled. Registration will be accepted
only through the Odisha government's e-District portal at https://edistrict.odisha.gov.in.
The Kartik month will
be observed from October 26 to November 24 this year.
Under the scheme,
selected Habishyalis will be provided free accommodation, facilities for
darshan at the Sri Jagannath Temple and free Mahaprasad during their stay in
Puri.
The accommodation
arrangements will be made at three locations — Brundabati Niwas, Municipality
Kalyan Mandap and Railway Tourist Complex.
Women from all 30
districts of Odisha can apply for the scheme. Widowed women up to 70 years of
age and married women aged between 50 and 70 years are eligible, provided they
are physically and mentally fit.
Preference will be
given to applicants who are participating in the scheme for the first time.
The Additional
District Magistrate (ADM) said at a press conference at the Circuit House here
that all concerned departments have coordinated and completed preparations to
ensure the smooth implementation of the Habishyali Yojana this year.
As in previous years,
volunteers will be deployed to assist registered Habishyalis and facilitate
systematic darshan of Lord Jagannath.
The ADM clarified that special arrangements under the scheme will be available only to registered Habishyalis. No separate special arrangements have been made for other elderly devotees and local Habishyalis, though steps are being taken to facilitate their darshan, he said.
Officials also urged eligible women to complete the online application process promptly, as the registration portal will be closed once the target of 2,500 applicants is reached.
