Puri: The nine-day sojourn of the presiding deities of the Shree Jagannath Temple—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—began this morning amidst the chanting of "Haribol" and "Jai Jagannath" and the rhythmic clanging of cymbals that echoed through the temple town.
Lakhs of devotees thronged the pilgrim city, converging along the three-kilometre-long 'Bada Danda' (Grand Road), stretching from the Lions Gate of the 12th-century temple to the Gundicha Temple, to witness the world-famous annual Rath Yatra.
The divine siblings, along with Lord Sudarshan, were first offered Gopal Bhog (breakfast) following the completion of daily rituals. Thereafter, they were ceremoniously brought out from the sanctum sanctorum ('Ratna Vedi') in the grand procession known as Pahandi Bije and taken to their elaborately decorated chariots stationed outside the temple.
Hundreds of temple servitors carried the deities on their shoulders through Ananda Bazaar and down the Baishi Pahacha to the Lions Gate, amid tight security and the blowing of conch shells.
As per tradition, Lord Balabhadra is the first to be brought out and placed on the Taladhwaja chariot, followed by Devi Subhadra on the Darpadalana chariot. Lastly, Lord Jagannath—lovingly referred to as Kalia by devotees—will be installed on the Nandighosa chariot.
A massive crowd gathered at the Lions Gate to catch a glimpse of the deities boarding their chariots, marking the beginning of their journey to the Gundicha Temple. Rooftops of buildings lining both sides of the Bada Danda were filled with devotees since early morning.
All lanes and bylanes leading to the Grand Road were packed as people tried to enter the area for a sacred darshan of the deities on their chariots.
According to temple sources, after the deities were placed on their respective chariots, the Gajapati King of Puri, Dibyasingha Deb, will perform the traditional Chera Panhara (sweeping of the chariots with a golden broom). The Shankaracharya of Puri will also have darshan of the Trinity on their respective chariots.
The chariots will be pulled one after another by lakhs of devotees along the Bada Danda to the Gundicha Temple, where the deities will stay for nine days before returning to the main temple during the Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival).
An elaborate security arrangement has been put in place, with over 10,000 personnel, including BSF, CRPF, RAF, NSG commandos, anti-drone squads, and snipers, deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
The Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and State Marine Police are patrolling the coastline, while 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras and drone jammers have been installed along Bada Danda and surrounding areas. These are connected to an integrated command and control centre.
To handle the massive footfall and ensure public safety, 36 designated parking zones and an ambulance corridor have been arranged along Bada Danda.
Over 500 lifeguards have been deployed to monitor the beach. Temporary accommodation with essential facilities and free food distribution centres has been set up at the railway station, as per directions from the Union Rail Minister.
On the healthcare front, the government has arranged 268 indoor patient beds, along with facilities for sunstroke and burn injuries. A total of 378 doctors and paramedics have been deployed in Puri to handle medical emergencies.
ADG (Traffic) Dayal Gangwar said that a special integrated traffic control plan, inspired by the Kumbh Mela model, has been implemented. Ten digital communication systems have been set up for team-wise traffic management, with 300 private security personnel assisting in processing data.
Six enforcement teams have been tasked with removing vehicles parked in no-parking zones, and more than 80 traffic aid posts are operational to manage vehicular flow.
