Latest news with #ChandanJatra
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT directs chief secretary to institute inquiry into 2024 Chandan Jatra blast
CUTTACK: The major firecracker explosion in which 17 persons died and 25 sustained severe injuries during the Chandan Jatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri on May 29 last year is back in focus with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering a probe into the 'grave security lapse' that caused it. The NGT's East Zone was hearing a petition seeking direction to the authorities to take steps to prohibit bursting of crackers during the rituals of Lord Jagannath in Puri. Sanjay Kumar Nayak, a resident of Aska in Ganjam district, filed the petition. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy argued on behalf of the petitioner in virtual mode. In the order uploaded on Thursday, the bench comprising B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Dr Vijay Kulkarni (Expert Member) said, 'We dispose of the petition with a direction to the chief secretary, government of Odisha, to institute an inquiry into the incident and take appropriate action against those found guilty of gross negligence and lapse in taking proper security steps to prevent the occurrence of the incident in question.' 'For future, it is directed that no explosives of any kind shall be permitted in such religious functions where the swell of the crowd is not just in thousands but in several lakhs and even a small lapse can result in loss of lives of lakhs of people. One cannot rule out that such an incident can even be triggered by ill-intentioned and anti-social elements using more lethal explosives other than mere firecrackers,' the bench added.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Puri police conduct mock drill at Jagannath Temple to assess emergency response for Rath Yatra
BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of Rath Yatra next month, Puri police conducted a mock drill on Wednesday to assess the preparedness and coordination among various departments to respond to any medical emergency at the Shree Jagannath Temple during the festival. The objective of the exercise was to assess the preparedness and coordination among cops, temple administration, Health department and other emergency response teams during any medical exigency that may arise on the temple premises, especially during peak hours and festive days, police said. The mock drill was carried out to strengthen emergency response mechanisms, enhance inter-agency coordination and ensure the safety and well-being of devotees and sevayats inside the temple, they added. As part of the exercise, a mock medical emergency situation was enacted where a dummy devotee collapsed near the sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Gruha). The medical staff provided first aid to the unwell dummy devotee, following which he was swiftly evacuated on a stretcher through the shortest exit path in the temple. Police officers, ambulance and medical staff, and officials of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) as well as Odisha Fire and Emergency Service participated in the mock drill. Their roles and responsibilities were assigned as per the standard operating procedure (SOP). The internal communication and alerting systems, including the VHF sets, were tested to ensure their efficiency and timeliness. The drill was carried out without causing any disruption to the temple rituals or the movement of the devotees. 'Ensuring the safety of devotees and sevayats inside the Shree Jagannath Temple is our top priority. This mock drill was designed to test and strengthen our readiness to handle medical emergencies promptly and effectively,' said Puri SP Vinit Agrawal. Such drills are crucial in building confidence among the devotees and the staff while also identifying the potential gaps in the mechanism to deal with any medical emergency. The involvement and support of the local community further strengthened the objective of the exercise, he added. Meanwhile, earlier in the day during Akshaya Tritiya celebrations, which marked the commencement of 'Rath Nirman' (construction of the chariots) and Chandan Jatra of Lord Jagannath, police formed a human chain to create a dedicated corridor for Palia sevayats to facilitate their smooth entry into the temple amid the huge rush of devotees.
Deccan Herald
30-04-2025
- Deccan Herald
Chariot making process for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra begins in Puri
The day also marked the beginning of the Lord's 42-day 'Chandan Jatra' as per tradition in the temple in this seaside pilgrim town.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Chariot making process for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra begins in Puri
Puri, The chariot-making process for the annual Rath Yatra in Puri started here Wednesday as part of the 'Akshaya Trutiya' rituals in the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple here. The day also marked the beginning of the Lord's 42-day 'Chandan Jatra' as per tradition in the temple in this seaside pilgrim town. The servitors performed special puja at 'Rath Khala' on the Grand Road outside the temple in the presence of chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration Arabinda Padhee, Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, SP Vinit Agrawal and others. The three chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath will be constructed at the rath khala in 58 days from Akshaya Trutiya, said Padhee, adding that all arrangements like sheds and drinking water facilities are made for the 'Biswakarmas' , 'Chitrakars' and other people associated with the Rath construction. The annual Rath Yatra this time falls on June 27. The special puja for the chariot-making began after the servitors brought the 'Agyan Mala' from the sibling deities. Three logs of wood for the three chariots were placed at the rath khala where the servitors will perform puja and the cutting of wood began thereafter as per the 'Banajaga' rituals. The temple priests , and the 'Shostriya' Brahmins performed the yagna in a specially built yagnashala. As per the special rituals, the temple priest first touched the three wood logs with three miniature golden axes, which are blessed and sanctified with the mantra of Maa Dakhinakali, and later the vishwakarmas started work. The day also marked the beginning of Chandan Jatra when the symbolic idols are taken to the Narendra tank where the deities enjoy water sports to beat the summer heat. According to the temple tradition, the 42-day Chandan Jatra is held in two phases. The first 21-day external Chandan Yatra will be held at the Narendra tank while the inner jatra will be held in the temple premises, said Bhaskar Mishra, a researcher in Shree Jagannath culture.
