Bhubaneswar, July 29: Widespread resentment has erupted among servitors and local residents of Puri over an app named ‘Hari Om’, which claims to offer VIP darshan at the revered Jagannath Temple for a fee of ₹1,000. 

The app promises devotees a "hassle-free" temple visit, complete with a personal assistant, puja essentials like tulsi and flowers, and even a special meal featuring the famed ‘56 bhog’—all allegedly arranged inside the temple premises.

However, the app’s services have drawn sharp criticism from both servitors and the local community, who accuse it of commercialising temple rituals and undermining the spiritual sanctity of the 12th-century shrine. They argue that turning religious practices into paid services creates inequality among devotees and violates the traditional inclusive ethos of the temple.

Particularly offensive to many was the app’s description of the sacred Mahaprasad as merely "dal and rice," which they termed as deeply disrespectful. The app requires devotees to book time slots in advance and arrive 30 minutes early with valid government-issued ID.

The controversy has sparked a broader debate on the ethics of technology in religious spaces, with locals demanding strict action to preserve the temple’s traditions and dignity.

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