Puri: Bada Danda in Odisha’s Puri is buzzing with religious fervour, chock-a-block with devotees, who have arrived in the pilgrim town to witness the annual sojourn of the sibling deities of Shree Jagannath Temple.
Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will travel on their respective chariots along the Grand Road, which has been beautifully decorated for the occasion.
The much-awaited Pahandi Bije (the grand procession of the deities from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum to the chariots was scheduled to begin at 9.30 am and continue until 12.30 pm. The Gajapti King of Puri will performs the ceremonial ritual of ‘Chhera Panhara” at 2.30 pm. The pulling of the chariots is likely to begin at 4 pm.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi have extended their heartfelt greetings to millions of devotees across India and abroad on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra.
“On the occasion of the sacred Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the devotees of Lord Jagannath residing in India and abroad. By witnessing Lord Balabhadra, Lord Shri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan on the chariot, millions of devotees experience divine bliss. The human-like divine play of the deities is the specialty of the Rath Yatra. On this auspicious occasion, my prayer to the Lord is that peace, friendship, and harmony prevail throughout the world,” the President posted on X.
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ମୁଁ ଦେଶ-ବିଦେଶରେ ରହୁଥିବା ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ଭକ୍ତଗଣଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି । ରଥ ଉପରେ ବିଜେ ବଡ଼ଠାକୁର ବଳଭଦ୍ର, ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, ଦେବୀ ସୁଭଦ୍ରା ଓ ଚକ୍ରରାଜ ସୁଦର୍ଶନଙ୍କୁ ଦର୍ଶନ କରି ଲକ୍ଷ ଲକ୍ଷ ଭକ୍ତ ଦିବ୍ୟ ଅନୁଭୂତି ଲାଭ କରିଥାନ୍ତି । ଶ୍ରୀଜୀଉମାନଙ୍କ ମାନବୀୟ ଲୀଳା ହିଁ…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 27, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a video on his X handle while greeting people on the occasion of Rath Yatra.
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ।
ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ! pic.twitter.com/TBLqIgV8kH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 27, 2025
“Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all on the sacred occasion of the Rath Yatra. I pray for the development of the state and the welfare and progress of all,” the Odisha CM wrote on X.
Weather forecast
Though there is no heavy rainfall warning for Puri on Friday, thunderstorm, lightning and gusty surface wind speeds reaching 30 kmph to 40 kmph may prevail in the district.
The local administration has implemented adequate measures to address potential waterlogging on Grand Road, where countless devotees will pull the chariots.
Security arrangements
In view of the Pahalgam terror attack and heightened tension between India and Pakistan, Puri has been placed under a five-tiered security blanket for the nine-day-long festival. A total of 200 platoons of police force and eight companies of the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force are stationed in the city. Police deployment have risen from 6,500 last year to over 10,000 this year. An anti-terror squad, armed vehicles, and NSG snipers, along with AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones, have been deployed to ensure a safe festival.
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