Massive Crowd Gathers in Puri as Grand Rath Yatra Begins Amid Tight Security

Bhubaneswar: The holy city of Puri is witnessing a sea of devotees as the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of the most revered Hindu festivals, commenced on Friday with great spiritual fervor and elaborate arrangements.

Also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, the Rath Yatra is observed on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the Shukla Paksha of the lunar month, a spiritually significant time symbolizing the moon’s increasing brightness.

As millions of devotees gathered to witness the divine spectacle, the three grand chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—named Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan respectively—began their ceremonial 3-kilometre journey from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, believed by some legends to be the birthplace of the deities in their Chaturddha Murti form.

Elaborate Preparations, Multi-Layered Security

In anticipation of the massive turnout, the Odisha government has undertaken extensive measures to ensure a smooth and incident-free festival. “We are fully prepared for the grand Rath Yatra. All rituals and arrangements have been meticulously planned,” said Puri Collector Sidharth Shankar Swain on Thursday. He appealed to devotees to cooperate with authorities and participate in the Yatra with devotion and discipline.

A five-tiered security arrangement has been implemented across Puri. As many as 200 platoons of police, along with eight companies of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other Central Armed Police Forces, have been deployed in and around the town.

Additionally, over 10,000 personnel from the Odisha Police, Central Forces, and Home Guards are actively stationed to manage crowds, maintain law and order, and oversee ritual proceedings.

For the first time, an integrated command-and-control system has been set up to monitor the city’s security and logistical operations. Around 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed from Uttara Square to Puri Town and along the Puri-Konark corridor to track crowd movement and traffic in real-time.

As the deities embark on their nine-day spiritual journey, the air in Puri is charged with devotion, chants, and the sound of conches—marking yet another historic chapter in the eternal celebration of Lord Jagannath’s love and liberation.