Puri: With Puri Rath Yatra fast approaching, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday underlined the need for close coordination among government departments, officials, employees and servitors to ensure the smooth and error-free conduct of the festival.
Majhi, who chaired a special review meeting at the Puri Town Hall ahead of the annual festival, said all stakeholders should work with dedication, combining their knowledge, experience and skills while seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath. A spirit of service and teamwork is essential for the successful management of the world-famous festival, he said.
Describing Lord Jagannath as the presiding deity in the hearts of millions, the CM said Ratha Yatra is the most sacred festival for devotees in Puri and Odisha as well as those around the world.
As the festival attracts global attention, ensuring a safe and well-organised Ratha Yatra is not merely an administrative responsibility but a moral duty for everyone involved, said Majhi.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that officials and employees would discharge their responsibilities with sincerity, treating their duties as a service to Lord Jagannath.
Majhi said elaborate security and crowd management arrangements have been made, with extensive police deployment across Puri. Comprehensive arrangements for healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, transportation and traffic management are also in place.
The CM emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring of all arrangements and appreciated the servitors for conducting temple rituals with discipline and punctuality.
The Chief Minister directed officials to make extensive use of mass media, public announcement systems and social media to spread public awareness. He said regular updates on rituals, traffic movement and other important information should be disseminated through FM radio, social media platforms, departmental websites and television channels to help devotees avoid inconvenience.
Majhi asked officials to maintain strict vigil against rumour-mongers and take firm action against those attempting to spread misinformation.
If all concerned perform their assigned responsibilities with devotion and respect for Lord Jagannath, the Ratha Yatra can be conducted smoothly, he said, adding that the true success of the administration would be ensuring that every devotee returns home after having a safe and spiritually fulfilling darshan of the deities.
