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With just a couple of days to go for the world-renowned Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, preparations have reached their final stage in Puri. The divine rituals are unfolding as per tradition, and the Lord is set to return from Anasara Ghar and appear in public in His rejuvenated form during the sacred Nabajouban Darshan, scheduled for tomorrow.
Following this, the Holy Trinity — Lord Jagannat h, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — will mount their grand chariots and roll down the Bada Danda (Grand Road) towards the Gundicha Temple, their aunt’s abode. The city is abuzz with devotion as three majestic chariots stand ready, awaiting the arrival of the Lords.
Also Read: Nabajouban Darshan: Things to know about Lord Jagannath, His Siblings%u2019 youthful Splendour
As spiritual fervour soars, the entire town of Puri has been placed under a multi-layered security cover to ensure a safe and smooth conduct of the massive festival, which draws lakhs of devotees from around the globe.
Extensive Security Arrangements in Place
To manage the massive footfall and maintain law and order during the Rath Yatra, nearly 10,000 police personnel will be deployed across the town.
Special preparations include a full chariot-pulling rehearsal at the Police Reserve Ground, which was conducted by all the security personnel on Wednesday.
“There will be several cordons along with crowd control system in each chariot. Special arrangements and security have been made for each chariot. There will be proper public announcement system. There will be two commandant rank officers along with several senior officers for each chariot. A dummy pulling of the chariot was conducted today,” said a senior police official.
For each rope of chariot, there will be two platoons of police force along with other volunteers. Special focus will be given to ensure that no devotee enters the inner cordon. During the actual pulling of the chariots, there will be an inner and an outer cordon along with special focus on crowd control, he said.
Only those having cordon passes will be allowed and no unauthorised person will be allowed near the cordon, the official added.
Dog Squads, Anti-Drone Systems for Puri Rath Yatra
A strong contingent, including dog squads, anti-drone systems, and over 200 platoons of security forces, has been pressed into service. Central paramilitary forces like BSF, CRPF, and RAF will also be part of the security framework, contributing eight dedicated companies on the ground.
The police have divided the city into eight distinct security zones, each tasked with different responsibilities ranging from traffic management, temple security, inner cordon control, and crowd management.
To monitor every corner of the city, 275 CCTV cameras have been installed, covering all key points including the Grand Road and temple perimeters.
Surveillance from All Directions
Security is not just limited to the ground. Air, land, and water surveillance is being actively carried out. Drones, watchtowers, and mobile units are being used to keep a constant watch over crowd movement and suspicious activities.
With meticulous planning, spiritual enthusiasm, and high-level vigilance, the holy town of Puri stands fully prepared to celebrate the auspicious Rath Yatra, a spectacle of devotion, tradition, and divine unity.
Devotees from across the world are expected to arrive in large numbers, and authorities have urged all participants to cooperate with the administration, follow safety guidelines, and immerse themselves in the spiritual bliss of Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s divine journey.
