Puri Police conducts chariot pulling mock drill ahead of Rath Yatra

A chariot-pulling mock drill was conducted by Puri Police and paramilitary forces at the reserve ground in Puri on Sunday ahead of world famous Rath Yatra to be held on Tuesday (June 20).

Elaborate arrangements have been made by the district administration and the police for the smooth conduct of the grand festival.

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.

Besides, special emphasis this year will be on crowd and traffic management, chariot pulling, and providing security to VVIPs, sources informed, adding that there will be a special mobility plan for vehicles in pilgrim city during the annual festival.

city will be divided into 14 zones and 29 sectors during the annual festival, sources added.

Meanwhile, the Grand Road is decked up to welcome the Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities.

Banakalagi ritual is being conducted at the Srimandir today in which the Duttamohapatra servitors are putting makeup on the faces of the Holy Trinity with traditional colours.

Lord Jagannath will give Nabajoubana Darshan to his devotees tomorrow (Monday). This year, the devotees will be allowed only three hours of darshan on Nabajoubana. Out of the three hours, one hour is reserved for the devotees with Parimanika tickets.