Jai Jagannath! Puri decked up for Rath Yatra; 10,000 cops, NSG snipers deployed for security amid India-Pakistan tensions
Puri is abuzz as devotees gather for the annual Rath Yatra. The deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra will journey to Gundicha Temple on decorated chariots
PURI: The pilgrim city is buzzing with religious fervour as countless devotees from across the country and abroad have started reaching Puri to participate in Friday's Rath Yatra.
Amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath', devotees await eagerly to witness the siblings deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra commence their annual sojourn to their birthplace at Gundicha Temple. The deities will travel on their respective chariots along the Grand Road, which has been beautifully decorated for the occasion.
The govt has taken all measures to ensure a peaceful and incident-free festival.
"We are fully prepared to host the grand festival. All requisite infrastructure and tourist amenities are in place," Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said. A senior ministerial committee, headed by deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, was tasked to assesse the arrangements. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who reviewed the preparations on June 22, emphasised the importance of an "incident-free" Rath Yatra.
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Given the IMD's rain forecast, the local administration said it has implemented adequate measures to address potential waterlogging on Grand Road, where countless devotees will pull the chariots.
Cop deployment increased in backdrop of Indo-Pak tension
Enhanced security measures have been implemented in Puri, with increased police presence in the light of the Indo-Pak tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. Police deployment has increased from 6,500 personnel last year to over 10,000 this year.
An anti-terror squad, armed vehicle and NSG snipers have also been positioned to ensure a smooth festival.
"We have put in place foolproof security, crowd control and traffic arrangements. AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones have been deployed," DGP Y B Khurania said.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) laid stress on timely completion of rituals. "We have held a series of meetings with the servitors, who have assured us full cooperation for timely and disciplined conduct of all rituals," SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee said, adding that only eligible and duty-bound servitors will be permitted on chariots and during Pahandi.
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