Bhubaneswar: Panchuka rituals, slated to commence from November 12 in Odisha, will be observed for four days this year instead of the usual five days.
Ahead of panchuka, elaborate arrangements are being made in the pilgrim town of Puri as a large number of devotees are expected to visit Shree Jagannath Temple to observe the annual rituals.
Anticipating a huge crowd in the holy town, extensive security measures have been taken by the police for the convenience of the devotees.
Sources said a barricade has been erected near the Marichikot road to ensure smooth movement of devotees and systematic darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings inside the 12th century shrine. The aim is to ensure darshan of the trinity in a smooth and disciplined manner through effective crowd management.
Similarly, adequate attention is being given to proper traffic management to prevent congestion.
On the steps being taken by the police for panchuka, Puri Superintendent of Police Vineet Agarwal said special preparations are being made to ensure that the annual ritual is observed in a disciplined.
The focus is on the convenience of devotee. The aim is to ensure that Habisiyalis and other devotees have a hassle-free and smooth darshan. A total of 38 platoon forces will be deployed for panchuka. In addition, five additional SPs, 14 DSPs, 26 inspectors will also be in charge of maintaining peace and order.
Meanwhile, as per the new Odia calendar which was released by the temple administration, panchuka will be observed for four days, not five days, this time.
The panji (Odia calendar) was introduced from the beginning of the Odia new year. However, in the current panji, there is an oddity about the date of the festivals, constellations and planetary movements. Therefore, experts and astrologers held a meeting to discuss the issue and take a decision on how to observe the ritual. After a detailed discussion, it was decided that panchuka will be observed for four days this time, sources said.