Puri: The district administration has started preparation to provide free accommodation and other facilities to at least 3,000 Habisyalis from across the state in the Hindu month of Kartika.
As per the tradition, hundreds of Habisyalis (elderly women) from various places of the state throng the Holy City to observe the month-long Kartika Brata.
A few years ago, the state government had launched a programme to provide free accommodation, food and other facilities to the Habisyalis.
The state government had also sanctioned funds for construction of a permanent shelter house for the Habisyalis in the Holy City.
According to sources, construction work of the shelter house has reached its last phase and the building would be ready for use within a few days.
It is learnt that Collector Balwant Singh has recently convened a meeting to make arrangement for the Habisyalis.
As per a decision taken at the meeting, at least 1,600 elderly women would be accommodated at the newly-built shelter house while 900 more would stay at the railway tourist complex in the city. Similarly, a community hall of the city municipality would accommodate 600 Habisyalis.
“The administration has planned to provide free accommodation to around 3,000 Habisyalis. It will make necessary arrangements if more than 3,000 elderly women register themselves for the programme,” said an official.
According to him, the Habisyalis can register their names for the programme from September 30. “The elderly women can register their names with their respective district administration,” said the official.
According to sources, the administration will open help desks for Habisyalis at city railway station and bus stand. The officials at the help desks will guide the devout women to reach the shelter houses, sources added.
The administration has decided to deploy lifeguards and fire brigade personnel at Narendra pond during the holy month of Kartika. Traditionally, many Habisyalis take bath in the pond before offering prayers in the morning.
“The administration will make arrangement to ferry the elderly women from their shelter houses to Srimandir. It will organise devotional song programme, Pala, discourse and Bhagawat recital at the shelter houses for Habisyalis,” the official said.