Puri: Lords of Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri are all set to appear in new youthful attire, Nabajouban Darshan, a day before Rath Yatra, on Thursday after spending a fortnight in the ‘anasar’ (sick room).
On this day, which is also called Netra Utshab, Paramanik Darshan of the deities will be held between 8 am and 9 am while general public darshan will be allowed from 9 am to 10.30 am after which the doors of the 12th-century shrine will be shut for rituals. While 3,000 tickets have been allocated for special darshan, arrangements have been made for Paramanik Darshan ticket holders to enter the Shree Jagannath Temple through Dakshina Swara (South Gate), sources said.
As per mythology, the deities have recuperated after falling sick due to taking excessive baths during ‘Snana Purnima’ on June 11.
This will be followed by Rath Agyan Mala (chariot consecration) in the afternoon. It involves bringing sacred garlands (Agyan Mala) from the sibling deities to the chariot construction yard, signifying divine permission for the annual journey to the Gundicha Temple. The chariots—Nandighosh, Debadalana, and Taladhwaja—will then be moved from Ratha Khala (chariot construction yard) to Singhadwara in that order – at 4.10 pm. The Chaka Dera ritual is also performed which involves fixing the axle to the wheels.
HEAVY SECURITY COVER
Following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the pilgrim town has been heavily fortified with approximately 10,000 security personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces, deployed for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, set for June 27. Over 275 AI-powered CCTV cameras have been installed across the town for surveillance, monitored 24/7 from a newly established Integrated Command and Control Room.
Also Read: Security Network For Puri Rath Yatra Split Into 8 Key Sectors: Odisha DGP
The enhanced security measures also include National Security Guard snipers on rooftops along the Bada Danda, anti-drone technology, police drones, anti-sabotage teams, bomb squads, and dog squads with Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy securing the seafront.
Around 15 lakh devotees are expected to visit the town from across India and abroad to participate in the annual sojourn of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath, which transcends caste and religion. A real-time chatbot has been launched to assist visitors with parking availability, route maps, and directions to vacant parking spaces. The traffic regulations will come into effect from Thursday.
Also Read: Traffic Advisory Issued For Puri Rath Yatra; Check Where To Park Vehicles
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has also announced 365 special trains to and from Puri, in addition to other regular trains, during the festival period. These special trains will run from various parts of the state, including Rourkela, Biramitrapur, Bangiriposi, Junagarh Road, Badampahar, Boudh, Jagdalpur, Balasore, Angul, Gunupur, Rayagada and other places.
Special trains will also operate to and from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gondia in Chhattisgarh and Santragachi in West Bengal, on the main days of the festival, it added.
