Bhubaneswar, July 15: The holy city of Puri is all set to host the world-renowned Rath Yatra as the three magnificent chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were ceremonially stationed in front of the Singhadwar (Lion's Gate) of the Shree Jagannath Temple on Wednesday after the arrival of the sacred Ajnamala, marking the divine command for the annual journey.

Following centuries-old traditions, the three towering wooden chariots—Nandighosa of Lord Jagannath, Darpadalana of Devi Subhadra and Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra—were pulled from the Rathakhala, the chariot construction yard, to the temple's main entrance amid devotional chants, the ringing of temple bells and the blowing of conch shells.

As per tradition, Nandighosawa was positioned first, followed by Darpadalana and Taladhwaja. Police personnel, temple servitors and thousands of devotees joined hands in pulling the sacred chariots, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere along the Grand Road.

With the chariots now in place, the final preparations for the grand Rath Yatra have been completed. The annual festival, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, will be celebrated on Thursday, drawing lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad.

The pilgrim town witnessed a massive influx of visitors throughout Wednesday, with the historic Bada Danda (Grand Road)bustling with devotees eager to witness the divine spectacle.

Preparations were equally intense at the Shree Gundicha Temple, where the sibling deities will stay for nine days during their annual sojourn. Devotees performed the traditional Janmabedi cleaning ritual, purifying the sacred platform with fragrant water, sandalwood paste and ceremonial brooms to welcome the deities.

According to the ritual schedule announced by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the day of Rath Yatra will begin with  Mangala Alati at 6 a.m.The sacred Pahandi Bije procession, during which the deities are carried from the sanctum sanctorum to their respective chariots, will commence at 9.30 a.m. and is expected to conclude by12.30 p.m.

The ceremonial Chhera Pahara, in which Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb sweeps the chariots with a golden broom as a symbol of humility and equality before the Lord, is scheduled between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.The much-awaited pulling of the three chariots along the Grand Road is slated to begin at 4 p.m.

The Puri district administration, in coordination with the SJTA and various government agencies, has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival. Multi-layered security deployment, advanced crowd management systems, medical assistance centres, emergency response teams, and enhanced traffic management plans have been put in place to handle the expected surge in pilgrims, which is likely to exceed last year's attendance.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD)has forecast the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall over Puri during the festival period. Keeping the weather conditions in mind, the administration has prepared additional contingency measures to ensure the safety, security and convenience of devotees.

The annual Rath Yatra commemorates the ceremonial journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple, where the deities reside for nine days before returning to their abode during theBahuda Yatra, another major event in the temple's annual religious calendar.