Puri Gears Up For Rath Yatra As Final Rituals Begin; Huge Security In Place

Bhubaneswar : The holy town of Puri is set for the final round of ceremonial preparations ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra on Thursday, with the Shree Jagannath Temple scheduled to perform the sacred Ubha Yatra ritual on Wednesday and authorities putting in place an extensive security and traffic management plan to handle the anticipated influx of lakhs of devotees.

The rituals follow Tuesday's Nabajaubana Darshan, during which devotees had the first glimpse of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra after the fortnight-long Anasara period.

As per temple tradition, the day will begin with the deities' routine morning rituals, followed by Gopal Ballav and Sakala Dhupa. Thereafter, servitors will ceremonially carry the sacred Agyanmala—the garland signifying the divine permission of the deities—to the three chariots in a traditional procession.

Following the Agyanmala Bije ritual, the three majestic chariots will be pulled from the Ratha Khala to the Singhadwara (Lion's Gate) of the Jagannath Temple, marking one of the final ceremonial milestones before the annual sojourn to the Gundicha Temple. In keeping with tradition, Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath, will be moved first, followed by Goddess Subhadra's Darpadalana and Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja.

The temple administration has suspended public darshan of the sibling deities on Wednesday to facilitate the preparations.

Later in the night, important rituals including Shrimukha Khandua, Dahuka Kanta and Senapata will be performed, completing the ceremonial preparations before the deities embark on their annual journey on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the district administration has finalised elaborate security, surveillance and traffic arrangements for one of the country's largest religious congregations.

The Puri Traffic Control Room has prepared a comprehensive traffic and parking management plan aimed at ensuring smooth vehicular movement and hassle-free access for pilgrims throughout the festival.

A total of 30 designated parking locations have been identified across the pilgrim town, including six newly added parking zones to accommodate the expected surge in vehicles compared to last year.

To strengthen surveillance, authorities have installed 244 CCTV cameras at strategic locations across Puri. Additionally, three drones will provide real-time aerial monitoring of crowd movement, traffic congestion and emergency situations, enabling swift response by the administration.

As part of the traffic restrictions, the Bada Danda (Grand Road) and all approach roads leading to the Shree Jagannath Temple have been declared No Vehicle Zones during the festival to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees and ensure the safe conduct of the chariot procession.

With the temple rituals entering their final phase and elaborate civic arrangements in place, Puri is now ready to welcome lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad for the grand annual Rath Yatra, a centuries-old festival that symbolises devotion, inclusivity and Odisha's rich spiritual heritage.