Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government held the first preparatory meeting for the upcoming Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and siblings in Puri chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Senior officials from police, temple administration, health, housing, transport and other key departments attended the high-level review at Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday. The Chief Secretary emphasised error-free management of the festival, directing departments to begin advance planning for chariot construction, crowd control, sanitation, health services, and traffic regulation.
She announced that monthly review meetings will be held to track progress and ensure timely completion of tasks. Celebrated annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, Rath Yatra remains one of the most significant religious festivals in India.
Temple Chief Administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee outlined the ritual calendar leading up to the Rath Yatra, scheduled for July 16, 2026, including timber worship on Basanta Panchami (January 23), wood cutting on Sri Ram Navami (March 27), commencement of chariot construction on Akshaya Tritiya (April20 ), and Snana Purnima (June 29).
Key measures discussed included:
• Crowd management with LED screens along the Grand Road.
• Health facilities with temporary medical centres and paramedics.
• Sanitation with 300–400 additional toilets.
• Traffic and parking arrangements with 500 designated spaces.
• Infrastructure works to be completed before April, including road repairs and the Siddha Mahavir overbridge at Puri.
• Railway coordination for ticketing and crowd control at Puri station.
The Chief Secretary stressed inter-departmental coordination and accountability, ensuring that preparations are completed well ahead of the festival.
