Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of physically challenged and orphan children had darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings in Gundicha Temple, thanks to the Puri district administration, which has facilitated their entry to the shrine.

Puri district collector Arvind Agrawal is taking care of the differently-abled to ensure that they had a satisfactory darshan.

The programme is being organised in co-ordination with Bare Foot, a voluntary organisation, senior citizens' association and the Puri district administration.

Barefoot founder Yugabrata Kar said: "We have been doing this for the last two years. This time, we are organising it in a co-ordinated way. More than 60 volunteers have been roped in to provide help to the physically challenged persons. After they reach the Ananda Bazar area of the temple, we lift them on our shoulders to the aaadap mandap inside the Gundicha temple."

Kar said: "When we took a blind person near the Lord inside the temple, tears rolled down his cheeks. He said though he could not see the Lord, the almighty saw him."

Lawyer Uma Ballava Mohapatra said: "The administration has allowed us to take the physically challenged persons through a restricted routes. Police force deployed in the temple are also providing a helping hand to ensure that the special devotees get a good darshan of the Lord Jagannath."

The volunteers with the support of local servitors also organised mahaprasad seva for them. "People have come out voluntarily to donate for the cause," said Mohapatra.

Ramesh, a physically challenged person, said: "Thanks to everyone for their support. I lack words to express my feelings. I could not control my tears when I saw the deities for the first time in the mausima mandir. Had the volunteers and the administration not supported, it would not have been possible for us to offer prayer at his feet."

Besides the special devotees, the district administration has also made arrangements for a smooth darshan for the orphan children. "We are quite happy to see that the children get a darshan of the deities," said the Puri collector. The children, who had a darshan of the deities on Wednesday, also expressed their joy.