Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Thursday extended a warm welcome to devotees and pilgrims visiting Puri for the annual Rath Yatra of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple, beginning June 27.
“Rath Yatra is here after a year. This is an opportunity for all to have darshan of the deities atop the three chariots,” he said.
ବିଶ୍ୱ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ର ପୁରୀକୁ ଆସୁଥିବା ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଳୁ ତଥା ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ସ୍ୱାଗତ ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି। ନିୟମ, ନିଷ୍ଠାର ସହ ରଥଯାତ୍ରାରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇ ରଥାରୁଢ଼ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଦିବ୍ୟ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଲାଭ କରିବାକୁ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ କହିଛନ୍ତି।#ରଥଯାତ୍ରା୨୦୨୫ pic.twitter.com/LJjUFXdEKp
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) June 26, 2025
The CM stressed on maintaining discipline while visiting the pilgrim town with heart full of devotion.
Former CM Naveen Patnaik, who is recuperating after a spine surgery for cervical arthritis at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, also shared a heartfelt video message, extending warm wishes for the festival when the Lords embark on a nine-day annual sojourn.
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଅବସରରେ ସଭିଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ 🙏 #RathaJatra #JaiJagannatha pic.twitter.com/WA0vYjfubg
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 26, 2025
The Puri administration and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival on Friday when the Lords will be brought out of the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th-century shrine and ride their respective chariots to the Shree Gundicha Temple.
Meanwhile, the three majestic chariots were moved to Singhadwar from Ratha Khala (chariot construction yard) after receiving the Agyan Mala from the Lords this evening. “… The three chariots have been brought to their designated place for their Gundicha Yatra tomorrow… The preparations are in the final stage. The rituals inside the temple are also underway in their sequence… Elaborate security arrangements have been made. NSG is also present here…,” Puri Collector Siddharth Swain said.
Devotees had also thronged the pilgrim town this morning to witness the Nabajouban Darshan of the Lords as they appeared in the youthful attire after being in quarantine (Anasar) for fifteen days following the Deba Snana Purnima. “All rituals are proceeding very smoothly. Today, the Nabajouban Darshan was held… The rituals for tomorrow are significant. It will begin with Mangal Arpan and will be followed by the Pahandi ritual at around 9 to 9.30 am, during which the idols will be brought to the chariots. The Chera Pahara ritual will be conducted by the Puri King.. The chariot pulling will start around 4 pm tomorrow…,” SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee told the media.
Speaking to the media, SP Puri Vineet Agarwal said that devotees in huge numbers will gather in Puri on Friday to participate in Rath Yatra of the Lords. “All measures for public safety, crowd management and public convenience have been taken. Traffic facilitation has been taken care of. Central agencies have also assisted… The Rath Yatra will be conducted smoothly… Our surveillance teams will remain present at the integrated control room. We also have anti-drone teams. They took down three drones today,” he said.
