Devotion Meets Preparedness as Puri Readies for Rath Yatra

Sacred Chariot Festival Begins as Puri Stands Prepared

IIE DIGITAL: Puri is fully prepared to host the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on Thursday, with elaborate arrangements in place and security tightened across the temple town to ensure the smooth conduct of one of India's biggest religious festivals.

The three iconic wooden chariots of the deities have been completed and beautifully decorated. Lord Jagannath's Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra's Taladwaja and Devi Subhadra's Darpadalan have been brought to the Singhadwar (Lion's Gate) of the 12th century Jagannath Temple after the traditional Agnyamala ritual, in which the deities symbolically grant permission for the procession through sacred garlands.

Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad are expected to gather in Puri to witness the grand chariot procession along the city's famous Grand Road.

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee said the administration has completed all preparations for the festival with the support of Odisha Police, central armed forces, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. He expressed confidence that the annual celebration would be conducted peacefully and successfully.

Around 13,000 police personnel have been deployed across Puri along with nearly 1,500 members of central armed forces, including teams from the CRPF, BSF, RAF and NSG. Authorities have also stationed 500 lifeguards along the beach to strengthen safety measures for pilgrims.

After the completion of temple rituals, including the traditional Chhera Pahanra performed by the Gajapati Maharaja and the customary visit of the Puri Shankaracharya, the pulling of the three chariots is scheduled to begin at 4 pm on Thursday. Officials said nearly one lakh devotees had already reached Puri ahead of the festival.

Odisha Director General of Police Y B Khurania said an extensive security plan has been implemented across land, sea and air. The focus remains on effective crowd management, smooth traffic movement and rapid emergency response. Drone surveillance and anti drone systems have also been deployed to strengthen security during the event.

Joint sea patrols by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the Odisha Police Maritime Wing have been activated, while Quick Response Teams have been kept on standby to handle any emergency. Additional security vehicles have also been positioned near the temple.

Additional Director General of Police Soumendra K Priyadarshi said authorities have made special arrangements to prevent overcrowding and ensure the orderly movement of devotees. Barricades, emergency response systems, accommodation for security personnel and coordinated crowd management plans have all been put in place. Bomb disposal squads, anti sabotage teams, dog squads and surveillance drones have also been deployed.

Meanwhile, the administration is closely monitoring weather conditions after the India Meteorological Department forecast heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the region. Special arrangements have been made to quickly drain rainwater from the Grand Road to avoid waterlogging during the procession.

The weather office has issued a red warning for Puri after the town recorded 143.8 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending Wednesday morning. As a precaution, all schools, including private institutions, remained closed on Wednesday.

The India Meteorological Department has also advised pilgrims to remain alert during thunderstorms and lightning. Elderly devotees, children and people with existing health conditions have been urged to avoid prolonged exposure to rain and overcrowded areas while attending the festival.