Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: Hundreds of habisyalis—devotees intending to stay in Puri during the holy month of Kartik for the Kartika Brata ritual—staged a protest on Thursday after the online registration portal for accommodations closed unexpectedly.

The 12th-century Jagannath Temple draws a significant number of habisyalis every Kartik to observe Radha Damodara Brata (Kartika Brata) and seek blessings from the deities. To support the influx, the government had announced accommodation facilities at state expense. Registration for these facilities opened on October 6 and was scheduled to remain active until November 11. However, the portal shut down abruptly after just one day, leaving many devotees unable to register.

Frustrated by the disruption, the habisyalis gathered outside Brundaban Ashram to demand immediate intervention from the authorities. With accommodation arrangements now uncertain, the protestors urged the administration to provide alternative lodging solutions so they could continue their rituals without interruption.

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