Puri, Nov 11: The holy town of Puri is gearing up for the five-day-long Panchuka festival, the final and most auspicious phase of the sacred month of Kartika. The religious observance is scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 21, drawing thousands of devotees to the Shree Jagannath Temple for a glimpse of the Lord's rare and divine appearances.

With a massive influx of devotees expected during the five-day festival, preparations are underway to ensure smooth and orderly darshan at the 12th-century shrine. The administration has already begun installing barricades along the Bada Danda (Grand Road) to regulate the crowds and facilitate the movement of pilgrims.

Special queue arrangements are being put in place to ensure that devotees can have a hassle-free darshan of the deities. Considering the anticipated rush, the barricading system is expected to extend up to Market Square to manage the large gathering.

The first day of Panchuka, November 21, will coincide with the observance of Haribodhini Ekadashi, marking the ceremonial awakening of Lord Vishnu. From this day onwards, devotees will have the opportunity to witness the special attire of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. Each day of Panchuka holds special religious significance, with the deities adorned in different traditional costumes.

One of the major highlights of the festival will be the Suna Besha (Golden Attire) on November 24, coinciding with Kartika Purnima. On this auspicious occasion, the deities will be adorned with magnificent gold ornaments while seated on the Ratna Singhasana (holy throne). The spectacular golden appearance is expected to attract devotees from across the country.

In view of the anticipated rush during Panchuka and Kartika Purnima, the temple administration and district authorities are focusing on crowd management, traffic regulation and streamlined darshan arrangements. Besides barricading, several other measures are being planned to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims.

With faith, devotion and age-old traditions at the heart of the celebrations, Puri is already witnessing a growing spiritual fervour ahead of the festival. As devotees eagerly await the rare darshan of the deities, ensuring a smooth and well-organised pilgrimage remains the administration's primary challenge.