Odisha: Golden Attire Of Lord Jagannath Draws Massive Crowds In Puri

Bhubaneswar: Tens of thousands of devotees converging on Puri to witness the sacred Suna Besha (Golden Attire) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra triggered massive traffic congestion on the Bhubaneswar–Puri National Highway on Saturday, leaving commuters stranded for long hours.

The worst traffic snarls were reported near Batagaon on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, where vehicles crawled bumper-to-bumper amid an unending stream of buses, private cars and two-wheelers heading towards the pilgrim town. In several stretches, commuters remained stuck for nearly an hour as traffic moved at a snail's pace.

The annual Suna Besha ritual, regarded as one of the most revered events of the Rath Yatra festivities, has drawn an overwhelming number of pilgrims from across Odisha and neighbouring states, resulting in an unprecedented surge in vehicular movement along the highway.

To manage the heavy rush, the Commissionerate Police, district administration and traffic authorities stepped up traffic regulation measures by deploying additional personnel at major junctions, vulnerable stretches and congestion points. Officials were seen directing traffic and assisting stranded commuters in an effort to maintain orderly movement.

Authorities have appealed to devotees to remain patient, adhere to traffic regulations and follow the instructions of police personnel on duty. Pilgrims have also been advised to check the latest traffic advisories before undertaking their journey to Puri.

With devotees continuing to pour into the holy town for the much-awaited darshan of the deities adorned in gold ornaments, officials expect traffic pressure on the Bhubaneswar–Puri corridor to remain intense throughout the day.