Why are many IIT, IIM students heading to Puri for this year's Jagannath Rath Yatra?
In an unprecedented blend of ancient tradition and modern management, India's brightest young minds are heading to the spiritual heart of Odisha for public service. This year, the
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025
will welcome a new kind of participant: students from top institutions like the IITs, IIMs, and leading policy schools, who will join as interns embedded in the machinery behind one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
Spearheaded by the Puri District Administration, this first-of-its-kind Public Systems and Infrastructure Internship invites students to spend 10–15 days on the ground in Puri during the Rath Yatra, as per reports in India Today.
Their mission?
As per the reports, the mission of the interns will be to study, support, and improve real-time systems that keep the Rath Yatra running, from sanitation and crowd control to emergency response and behavioural analytics. Unlike conventional internships, this initiative places interns at the heart of a high-stakes, high-density civic operation, offering them not only an unparalleled learning experience but a chance to actively shape public systems.
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They'll be working with government departments, collaborating with field officers, and contributing directly to the event's planning and execution, bridging academic insight with grassroots realities.
The main aim of the internship is Seva through system building, where service is not restricted to volunteering, but also about being a part of the greater good.
Shree Jagannatha Dham App
Meanwhile, in preparation for the upcoming Rath Yatra, Puri Collector and District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain (IAS) announced the launch of a new mobile application aimed at enhancing the experience for devotees. Taking to X, he shared that the 'Shree Jagannatha Dham' app has been officially launched to streamline access to essential information.
— dm_puri (@dm_puri)
Key features include:
- Real-time updates on Niti (ritual) status and timings
- Estimated waiting times in queues
- Detailed arrangements for Rath Yatra and other special occasions
The app is designed to make the spiritual journey smoother and more informed for lakhs of visitors expected in Puri.
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