In Odisha’s coastal pilgrimage city of Puri, the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be held today. The administration is on high alert, and security arrangements are in place. Lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad are expected to participate. The Rath Yatra will begin at 4 PM, with rituals starting early in the morning.
Arvind Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), said, “By the blessings of Lord Jagannath, all preparations for the peaceful conduct of the Rath Yatra on Friday are complete. We are receiving full support from the Sevayats (temple servitors), and all arrangements are in place.”
The chariot-pulling of the three siblings—Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath—will commence at 4 PM, after all rituals are completed.
According to police sources, by Thursday evening, around one lakh people had already reached Puri. Some were fortunate to witness the “Nabajouban Darshan,” which is the first glimpse of the deities after the ritual bath. Post the Snana Yatra on June 11, public darshan was stopped, as per tradition. It is believed that after the ritual bath, the deities fall ill and are kept in seclusion—“Anasara Ghar”—for about two weeks. Devotees will be able to see the deities again starting today.
Full-Day Program Schedule:
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The Singhadwara (Lion Gate) of the temple was opened during Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn).
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Lord Jagannath was awakened, followed by Mangala Aarti (auspicious morning prayer).
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Preparations for the Rath Yatra began thereafter.
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Lord Jagannath will be offered Khichdi (a rice-lentil dish) as Bhog.
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In the afternoon, the deities will be ceremoniously brought from the sanctum to the chariots.
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After boarding the chariots, the Lord will be adorned with grand ornaments.
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By 2:30 PM, the adornment ceremony will be complete.
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Then, the Gajapati Maharaja of Odisha will symbolically sweep the chariot platform with a golden broom, marking the formal beginning of the yatra.
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The Rath Yatra will commence at 4 PM.
Special Preparations & Security Measures in Puri:
Lord Jagannath had been unwell since Snana Purnima on June 11. After over 15 days of treatment, the deities are now ready for public darshan again.
Odisha DGP Y.B. Khurania said that Puri has been turned into a fortress to manage the crowd. Approximately 10,000 security personnel will be deployed, including 8 companies of central armed forces.
For the first time, an Integrated Command and Control Center has been established to monitor the entire event. Over 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras have been installed along routes leading to Puri and Konark. NSG snipers have been deployed in front of the temple on the Grand Road. Additionally, drones, bomb squads, dog squads, marine police, coast guard, and navy have also been placed on high alert.
The weather department has forecast thunderstorms and wind speeds of 30–40 km/h in Puri and nearby districts today.
To facilitate transportation, Indian Railways is operating 365 special trains, and the Odisha government has arranged for 800 buses from various districts.
Preparations for the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad:
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s capital, the 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will also take place today with 23,884 security personnel on duty.
For the first time, an AI-based surveillance system is being used to prevent stampedes and ensure safety. This software receives live feeds from CCTV cameras and drones and analyzes the crowd’s density, movement, and potential threats in real-time. The system instantly alerts the police control room in case of crowding, fire, or any other emergency.
Vehicles participating in the yatra will be tracked using GPS systems. Along the route, 4,500 police personnel will accompany the yatra, and 1,931 traffic police will manage traffic.
The security setup includes local police, State Reserve Police (SRP), Chetak Commandos, and the Rapid Action Force. There are 2,872 body cameras, 41 drones, 96 surveillance cameras, and 25 watch towers installed.
The yatra will begin from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur and will return to the temple by 8 PM. As per tradition, the Khalasi community will pull the chariot. The procession will include 18 elephants, 100 trucks, and 30 akharas (martial arts groups).
Special Preparations for Rath Yatra in Digha (West Bengal):
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee visited the newly constructed Shree Jagannath Temple in Digha on Thursday to review preparations for the Rath Yatra. She held a high-level meeting with the Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA), police officials, and ISKCON monks. She also inspected the three chariots and the 1-kilometer-long route.
The entire city has been decorated with temple-themed cutouts and lighting created by artists from Chandannagar. Along the 180 km route from Kolkata to Digha, saffron flags and banners have been placed. So far, over 3 million (30 lakh) devotees have visited the temple, and a massive turnout is expected during the Rath Yatra.
According to ISKCON Vice-President Radharaman Das, CM Mamata Banerjee herself will participate in pulling the chariot on June 27.
She told the media that the three chariots will begin their journey at 2:30 PM and finish by 4 PM. Worship rituals started Thursday evening, and preparations for the chariot pulling began today at 8:30 AM.
Due to security concerns, devotees will not be allowed to step onto the road to pull the chariot ropes. They will only be permitted to touch the ropes from behind barricades.
