Rath Yatra News Updates

After completion of anabasara rituals of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra at Srimandir, devotees throng shrine in large to witness Nabajaubana besha of the Holy Trinity.

Chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra taking shape at the Bada Danda in Puri.

Lord Jagannath along with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra & sister Devi Subhadra adorned Hati Besha.

Lord Lagannath and his sibling’s holy bath ceremony

At a time when complaints of unscheduled power cuts are pouring in from different parts of the state and the residents of Puri city and devotees were a worried lot, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena’s assurance came as a huge relief for them. 

After remaining secluded for 14 days in Anasara Ghara, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra have reappeared and are giving darshan in youthful appearance to countless devotees on the occasion of Nabajouban Darshan today.

As per the timetable, the Parimanik Ticket Darshan started at 8 am and will continue for an hour. The Parimanik Darshan ticket holders will enter the shrine through the South Gate.

Keeping the heat wave conditions in view, the administration has made elaborate arrangements. While it has stocked about 25 lakh water bottles, volunteers have been roped in to distribute them among the devotees at the grand road and the sea beach. 

In an exclusive interview with OTV, the first servitor of Lord Jagannath cast light on what he has visualised the Srimandir Heritage Corridor Project should be. 

In the chariot construction, a total of 46 Maharana servitors, 16 labourers, four blacksmiths and two cutters are engaged. Similarly, the temple and district administrations have made elaborate arrangements for the festival. 

All the inter-state tourist buses and local tourist buses will stop and park at Malatipatpur bus stand. All the regular passenger-carrying buses will be allowed up to Talabania temporary bus stand via Malatipatapur railway over bridge, Toshali Sands, Grid Station Chhak and Bhudan Chhaka.

Addressing the people, PM Modi said, “Rath Yatra has a unique identity in the whole world. Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra is taken out with great fanfare in different states of the country. The Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha is a wonder in itself.”

According to sources, as many as 170 platoons of police force will be deployed in the pilgrim town for the smooth and timely conduct of Rath Yatra, which is likely to witness a footfall of over 10 lakh of devotees from different parts of the country and globe.

After being enlisted as the servitor of the temple, Swastik, son of ‘Banakalagi’ servitor Rati Dutta Mohapatra, engaged himself in the Banakalagi service of the deities. 

The main focus of the drill was to ensure prompt shifting of devotees needing medical attention due to several reasons like sunstroke, asphyxiation, or in a stampede-like situation.