Today, Puri welcomes a surge of pilgrims as Kartik Brat kicks off, a period when devotees flock to seek merit during Dharma Masa. To maintain order, the temple administration has restricted entry to the lion door and the west door.
While pilgrims can exit through three other doors, the administration specifies that this rule does not affect the servants and families of Shrimandi.
Although devotees observe Kartik Brat from Ashwin Shukla 11th to Kartik Shukla Padha 10th, they will traditionally begin the observance on Kartik Krishnavathas Pratipada. At Panchtirtha, Brahmins will offer guava and chachana, marking the start of the habisa ritual.