Puri: Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Nabajoubana darshan of the deities in the Shri Jagannah temple tomorrow.
Giving details of the arrangements, IG (Operation) Soumendra Priyadarshi said as the deities would come out of the Anasara Gruha tomorrow and give darshan to the devotees in Nabajoubana attire, the State Police have made special arrangements for the smooth darshan of the deities.
“There are two types of darshan of the deities. One is Paramanik darshan in which the devotees buy tickets while the other is Sarbasadharana darshan in which the devotees have darshan without paying anything. As per the arrangement, the Paramanik devotees will be allowed to enter the temple through its southern gate and move through the Panda Dwara and Muduli Dwara and reach the Bahara Katha Dwara from where they will have the darshan of the deities. After the Paramanik darshan is over, the Sarbasadharana darshan will begin in which the devotees will enter into the temple from the Singha Dwara (Main gate) and move through Sata Pahacha and reach the Bahara Katha Dwara from where they will have the darshan of the deities. After the darshan, the devotees will leave the temple through Egara Dwara and Ghanti Dwara,” Priyadarshi told OTV today.
He said elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth darshan of the deities.
“The arrangements will be the same as previous years except the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra last year in which there was no Nabajoubana darshan of the deities,” he pointed out.
The IG also said that during the Nabajoubana darshan, the three chariots would be pulled from the Ratha Khala and placed in front of the Singha Dwara.
“The servitors would bring the Agyan Mala from the temple to the Ratha Khala in time after which the chariots would be pulled. The arrangement will be successful if the servitors and the temple administration ensure timely conduct of rituals,” he added.
Asked whether the State Police is adhering to the recommendations of Justice PK Mohanty Commission of Inquiry that inquired into the death of four devotees in stampede inside the temple on November 4, 2006, Priyadarshi said the recommendation of the Commission will be carried out during the crowded day. “Since it will be a regulated crowd for Nabajoubna darshan, specific police arrangements have been made,” he added.
Meanwhile, a mock drill was held at the Police Barrack here this morning in which all wings of the State Police took part to prepare for any eventuality during the Ratha Jatra.
Present on the occasion, Director General of Police KB Singh said special security arrangements have been made inside the temple, around the three chariots, during the pulling of chariots, for crowd and traffic management for smooth conduct of the festival. “Apart from this, adequate police forces have been deployed along the coastal belts of Puri for security reasons,” he informed.
Asked whether the closure of Samajajpur railway over-bridge would pose any problem for the police in regulating traffic, Singh said this would be a challenge for the police.
But he said the State Police had alerted the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials in this regard and they have promised to restore the affected portion of the bridge by tomorrow and allow plying of light commercial vehicles.
Replying to another question on how the police would manage the traffic at the toll gate near Atharanala on the outskirts of Puri, the DGP said “We have requested the toll gate controlling authorities to allow free flow of traffic on the day of Ratha Jatra on July 6.
Talking about security threat in the wake of ISIS attack in Dhaka, he said the officers have been specifically instructed to keep a strict vigil on the visitors in all hotels in Puri.