Though the 'Pahandi' ritual was scheduled to begin at 12 noon, it started at 10.30 am, much earlier during which the trinity- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath, are being taken one by one to the chariots
Bhubaneswar: A sea of devotees descended on Odisha’s pilgrim city of Puri on Saturday for the grand Bahuda Yatra — the return car festival of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The deities, who have been staying at their aunt’s abode, the Sri Gundicha temple, for the past nine days, began their sacred journey back to the 12th-century Srimandir, their divine residence where they are worshipped throughout the year.
Amid heightened religious fervour and tight security, the Odisha Police confirmed that comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the centuries-old annual ritual, one of the largest religious congregations in eastern India.
Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, who has been personally overseeing the security and logistical arrangements along with other senior officials, expressed satisfaction over the preparedness.
“A total of 205 platoons of police force have been deployed across Puri town and along the Grand Road stretch. With the Lord’s blessings, the Yatra will conclude peacefully and safely,” said DGP Khurania.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Pinak Mishra informed that key rituals, including the Mangala Alati, had been completed by early morning. The ceremonial Pahandi procession, where the deities are carried in a rhythmic, swaying manner from the sanctum to their majestic chariots, was underway, paving the way for the much-awaited chariot pulling ritual.
Speaking to reporters, SP Mishra added, “We have put in place stringent security measures, with special arrangements considering the possibility of rain and other adverse weather conditions. Our priority remains crowd management, surveillance, and swift emergency response.”
For the first time this year, Odisha Police has introduced an advanced independent drone surveillance system to monitor crowd movement, traffic flow, and sensitive locations in real-time. The high-definition visuals captured by drones are being relayed to a dedicated central traffic control room, manned by senior officers, ensuring seamless coordination between ground personnel and control units.
Official sources said additional steps have been taken to manage medical emergencies, regulate vehicular movement, and prevent any untoward incident in the wake of surging pilgrim numbers. Temporary health camps, mobile police posts, and quick reaction teams have been stationed along the Grand Road to swiftly handle any situation.
The Bahuda Yatra, often seen as a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and return to the eternal abode, continues to draw lakhs of devotees, reaffirming Puri’s spiritual significance on the global pilgrimage map.
