The city of Puri in Odisha is preparing for the renowned Ratha Yatra festival where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will journey to the Gundicha Temple from the Jagannath Temple on July 16. The chariots of the divine siblings are being moved to the Lion’s Gate of the Jagannath Temple as part of the final preparations for the grand event.
Devotees from around the world are eagerly participating in pulling the chariots of the deities for about 3 km to the Gundicha Temple. The state government departments have made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and safe conduct of the Rath Yatra. The Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has confirmed that all preparations for the festival are in the final stages.
The rituals preceding the Rath Yatra have been progressing smoothly, including the ‘Netrotsav’ and ‘Nava Yauvana Darshan’. The ceremonial procession, Pahandi Bije, is scheduled to commence on Thursday morning. Comprehensive arrangements focusing on crowd control, security, and devotee convenience have been made by the administration for this year’s festival.
The Puri district police have implemented traffic arrangements to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles during the festival. Extensive security measures have been put in place, with a significant deployment of police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces. The Indian Coast Guard and Navy are on alert along the coastal route to prevent any illegal activities. The state government has also enhanced communication and surveillance measures for the event.
