The temple Management underwent a period of turbulence as it was handled from one generation to another until the passage of the Sri Jagannath Temple Act of 1954 by which the temple Management was completely made over to a committee to be appointed and supervised by the Government of Orissa. The Act however,  has respected the historical sentiment and accorded the right to be the nominal Ex-Officio Chairman of the managing committee to the Raja of Jagannath Puri. Since then, the temple worship has stabilized and the annual Festivals are going on smoothly. 

     The present "King of Orissa" Raja Gajapati Divyasingha Deva has continued the tradition of his forefathers in being the Adya Sevak of the Lord and performs traditionally assigned duties as a matter of his right under the act. He is also entitled to certain worship privileges with the members of his immediate family.

      The actual day to day Management is done by the management commitee. The Rituals and rites in the temple are allotted to Sevaks who are hereditarily designated to perform various duties to the Lord. These sevaks do not receive remuneration as such but are entitled to a share of the Mahaprasadam called  Kheyi. The Gajapati Maharaj, the Chairman is the adya or first of such sevaks. For eg., one of his duties (and rights by law) is to sweep the chariots during the Chariot Festivals Rathayatra with a "golden broom". There are a total of 36 such hereditary sevas (Chatisha Niyag) and a couple of thousand priests involved in the worship of Lord Jagannath.

      The pilgrim crowd received by the temple annually is estimated to be over 25 lakhs  with nearly 20 Lakhs coming for the car Festivals and the return car festival alone.  In a way, the pilgrims constitute the life and soul of the economy of the temple and the temple town Jagannath Puri Dham.