Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri witnessed an extraordinary surge of devotees on Sunday. From the early morning hours, pilgrims from different parts of the state and beyond thronged the Grand Road, forming long queues that stretched across the temple’s approach routes.
The rush was largely attributed to the weekend holiday and the ongoing winter pilgrimage season, which traditionally draws large numbers of visitors to the shrine. Many devotees reported waiting for hours to gain entry into the sanctum for darshan.
Despite the congestion, the atmosphere remained deeply devotional, with chants of “Jai Jagannath” resonating throughout the temple town. Families, elderly pilgrims, and tourists joined locals in the spiritual gathering, underscoring the temple’s enduring significance as one of India’s most revered religious sites. To manage the overwhelming crowd, police and temple authorities stepped up their efforts.
Additional personnel were deployed along the Grand Road and inside the temple complex. Barricades were set up to streamline queues and prevent stampede-like situations, while traffic restrictions were enforced around the temple to ease pedestrian flow. Medical teams were also kept on standby to assist devotees who might face health issues during the long wait.
Officials acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the rush but assured that measures are being strengthened to improve visitor experience. Police said despite the heavy turnout, no untoward incidents were reported thanks to coordinated crowd control efforts.
