Puri: There will be a total ban on use of mobile phones on the three chariots during Rath Yatra, Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Arvind Padhee, told the media on Saturday.
This followed a high-level meeting between the temple administration and the Daitapati Nijog, focusing on ritual discipline, safety, and crowd management.
“Emphasis has been placed on coordination, disciplined rituals, and adherence to arrangements. Assistants of servitors can access the chariots only when necessary. Imposters climbing the chariots will face criminal cases,” he asserted.
Rath Yatra of Lords of Shree Jagannath Temple is scheduled for June 27.
Padhee further informed that the rituals of Nabajouban Darshan and Netra Utsav will be performed on the same day. “Therefore, the focus is on timely completion of the rituals and smooth darshan of the deities,” he said.
To avoid a recurrence of last year’s Adapa Mandap Bije mishap, Daitapati Nijog has formed four Pahandi teams. “We have requested the servitors to follow the recommendations of the three-member probe committee during the ceremonial Pahandi rituals of the deities. We will also assign senior officials for each chariot,” he said.