Puri/IBNS: As it was promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the newly-formed Odisha government on Thursday opened all four gates of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, media reports said.

All gates have been opened for the first time since 2020, when Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.

Since then, only the Singhadwara (Lion Gate) used to open while three other doors- Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate), Vyaghra Dwara (Tiger Gate), Hasti Dwara (Elephant Gate) remained shut.

In its manifesto for the assembly elections, the BJP had promised to throw open all the gates if it comes to power.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi in his first cabinet meeting had decided to take the step on Thursday.

Majhi has also announced a budget of Rs. 500 crore for the temple.

In the 2024 assembly elections, the BJP uninstalled the 25-year Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal government to assume power in the state for the first time.