Puri/ Bhubaneswar, May 31:Preparations for the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath gathered momentum as a high-level coordination meeting was held in Puri on Saturday involving senior police officials and representatives of various servitor (sevayat) bodies of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Range, Cuttack, Dr. Satyajit Naik, and Superintendent of Police (SP), Puri, Pratik Singh, who held detailed discussions with temple servitors regarding security arrangements, crowd management, and the smooth conduct of rituals during the annual chariot festival.
During the interaction, the senior police officers emphasized the importance of close coordination between the administration and the sevayat community to ensure a disciplined, safe, and incident-free Rath Yatra. Special focus was laid on effective crowd control measures, seamless movement of devotees, and the timely performance of rituals associated with the grand festival.
The Rath Yatra, one of the largest religious congregations in the world, is scheduled to be held in the holy city of Puri in July. On the auspicious occasion, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra, will embark on a ceremonial journey from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple, popularly known as the aunt's abode (Mausima Temple area), where the deities will stay for nine days.
Following their annual sojourn, the Holy Trinity will return to the Shree Jagannath Temple during the Bahuda Yatra, marking the culmination of the grand festival.
With lakhs of devotees, pilgrims, and tourists expected to arrive in Puri from across India and abroad, the district administration and police are gearing up for extensive arrangements to manage the unprecedented influx of visitors. Authorities are taking all necessary steps to ensure public safety, smooth traffic movement, crowd regulation, and emergency response preparedness throughout the festival period.
Prior to the coordination meeting, Dr. Naik and SP Pratik Singh also held a separate interaction with temple servitors to review crowd management strategies both inside and outside the Jagannath Temple, particularly during key rituals and peak congregation periods. Discussions centered on maintaining order, facilitating the movement of devotees, and ensuring that traditional rituals are conducted without disruption.
The police administration reiterated its commitment to working closely with temple authorities, sevayats, and other stakeholders to make the Rath Yatra a spiritually enriching and secure experience for millions of devotees visiting the pilgrim town.
