Latest news with #CarFestival
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Railway announces special trains for Puri Rath Yatra
1 2 3 Visakhapatnam: To arrange for passengers comfortable journey during Rath Yatra (Car Festival) at Puri in Odisha, the East Coast Railway has decided to run special trains between Visakhapatnam-Puri, Jagdalpur-Puri and Rayagada-Khurda Road. Special train number-08313 Visakhapatnam-Puri via Haripurgram, Arugul will leave Visakhapatnam at 12.45 am on June 27, and July 5 and will reach Puri on the same day at 12 pm. In the return direction, train number-08314 Puri -Visakhapatnam special train will leave Puri at 2.15 am (early hours of June 28 and July 6) to arrive in Visakhapatnam on the same day at 1 pm., informed K Saandeep, senior divisional commercial manager of Waltair Division. Special train number-08445 Jagdalpur-Puri via Haripurgram, Argul will leave Jagdalpur at 9 am on June 26 and July 4 and will reach Puri at 1.15 am midnight. In return direction the train number-08446 Puri- Jagdalpur special will leave Puri at 12.45 am on June 28 and July 6 will reach Jagdalpur on the same day at 4.45 pm. Similarly, train n-08593 Rayagada- Khurda Road special will leave Rayagada at 11 am on June 26 and July 4 will reach Khurda Road at 11.55 pm on the same day. In return direction the train number-08594 Khurda Road-Rayagada will leave Khurda Road at 1 am on June 28 and July 6 will reach Rayagada at 3 pm on the same day.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Railways to run 365 special trains, pilgrims from Odisha, Andhra, Bengal, Chhattisgarh & more states to benefit
With the famous Rath Yatra festival approaching in Odisha 's Puri, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced that it will run 365 special trains to and from the holy city. These are in addition to the regular trains and are meant to help manage the large number of pilgrims expected to visit during the festival. Trains from Across Odisha and Neighbouring States In a statement, the ECoR said it has made extensive arrangements to ensure smooth travel for devotees from various parts of Odisha and nearby states. The special trains will operate from towns such as Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Junagarh Road, Badampahar, Boudh, Jagdalpur, Baleswar, Angul, Gunupur, and Rayagada. In addition, trains will also run to and from Visakhapatnam ( Andhra Pradesh ), Gondia ( Chhattisgarh ) and Santragachi (West Bengal) on the main days of the Car Festival . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Why Smart People Always Keep Baking Soda At Home Read More Undo Boost in Festival Travel Plans 'This wide network of special trains will help manage the large number of pilgrims visiting Puri and also make travel easier for people in remote and interior areas,' said the ECoR. The number of special trains this year has increased from 315 in 2024 to 365 in 2025, showing the railways' commitment to scaling up their services for one of Odisha's biggest festivals. Live Events Stay Updated Before Travelling The ECoR has also advised all passengers to check train timings and availability using official railway websites or mobile apps. Public announcements will also be made closer to the festival to keep travellers informed. Inputs from PTI
United News of India
11-06-2025
- General
- United News of India
Lakhs of devotees throng Puri to witness grand royal bathing of Trinity at Sri Jagannath Temple
Puri, June 11 (UNI) Lakhs of devotees thronged the grand road of this pilgrim city on Wednesday to witness the magnificent royal bathing ceremony and the 'Hati Vesha' of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra of the Sri Jagannath Temple. The royal bathing ceremony, popularly known as Snan Purnima, is considered a major ritual preceding the famous Car Festival or Rath Yatra of the deities. As per tradition, the holy triad was ceremoniously escorted from the Ratnasinhasan in the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple to the Snana Vedi in the early hours of Wednesday by the Daita servitors in a grand 'Pahandi' procession, accompanied by chants of 'Jai Jagannath.' The air resonated with the music of drums, cymbals, bugles, and ghanta as the Daita servitors — a special group known as the protectors of the deities — carried the deities to the bathing altar located in the outer temple complex. The bathing altar is a large raised platform overlooking the grand road and facing east. The priests consecrated the holy water drawn from the sacred golden well inside the temple complex. A total of 108 pitchers of water, blended with aromatic herbs and sandalwood, were used for the bathing ritual. The water was manually drawn by the servitors from the golden well of the temple. Of this, 35 pitchers were used for bathing Lord Jagannath, 33 for Balabhadra, 22 for Subhadra, and 18 for Sudarshan. After the bathing ceremony, the deities were dressed, and Gajapati King Dibyasingh Deb, the foremost servitor of the Lord, arrived in a ceremonial procession from the palace to perform the Chhera Pahanra (sweeping around the deities atop the Snana Vedi). A special set of servitors adorned the deities in the 'Hati Vesha' or elephant attire, symbolising their incarnation as Lord Ganesha. The deities were offered bhog before the public darshan of the deities during the 'Sahanamela', which will continue from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Late in the night, the deities will be taken to a secluded chamber in the temple called the 'Anasar House' (room for the sick) in a similar 'Pahandi Bije' procession. Here, Lord Jagannath, along with Balabhadra and Subhadra, will recline for fifteen days, believed to suffer from fever following the holy bath. During this fortnight, the temple's Vaidya (doctor) will treat the deities with herbal medicines, and they will be served fruits as their diet by the Daita servitors. Public darshan of the deities will be prohibited during these fifteen days. However, devotees visit the Alarnath Temple, about 23 km from Puri, where it is believed that Lord Jagannath manifested during this period. As part of the security arrangements, 450 officers and 70 platoons of police forces have been deployed, said Central Range IG S Praveen Kumar. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with senior officials, visited the Puri Srimandir and participated in the Mangala Alati, the 'Pahandi Bije,' and had a darshan of the presiding deities. Majhi expressed his satisfaction with the rituals and the security arrangements made for the smooth conduct of the Snana Yatra. The Chief Minister said the Rath Yatra, scheduled to be held on June 27, would be conducted smoothly with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. UNI DP ARN
