Puri, Odisha witnessed a sea of devotees on Friday as the iconic Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began amid spiritual fervour and elaborate security measures. Known as Shree Gundicha Yatra, the festival marks one of the grandest annual events in the Hindu calendar and attracts millions from across India and abroad.
Celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi of the lunar month’s Shukla Paksha, the festival is considered spiritually auspicious as it signifies the increasing radiance of the moon.
A Tradition Rooted in Faith and History
Renowned Jagannath culture scholar Suryanarayan Rath Sharma remarked,
“The Rath Yatra is the most ancient chariot festival in the world. It is believed that witnessing Lord Jagannath during this Yatra grants moksha (liberation).”
During the nine-day festival, Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra journey from their 12th-century shrine to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away. Their majestic wooden chariots — Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan — are pulled by devotees in a spectacular spiritual procession.
Massive Security and Arrangements in Place
To ensure a smooth and incident-free celebration, the Odisha government has implemented a five-tiered security system across Puri. Measures include:
- 200 platoons of police
- 8 companies of BSF, CRPF, and other forces
- 10,000 personnel from Odisha Police, CAPF, and Home Guards
- 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras monitoring key routes
- Integrated command-and-control centres tracking crowd and traffic in real time
Speaking on preparations, Puri Collector Sidharth Shankar Swain stated:
“We are fully prepared for the grand Rath Yatra. All rituals and arrangements have been meticulously planned. We seek blessings from Mahaprabhu and cooperation from all devotees.”
Spiritual and Technological Harmony
For the first time, an AI-enabled surveillance system is being used to monitor crowd movement and traffic from Uttara Square to Puri Town, and onwards to Konark. This tech-forward approach reflects a blend of tradition and modern administration aimed at preserving the sanctity and safety of the event.
