Puri, July 14: The holy city of Puri has been transformed into a grand spectacle as preparations for the annual Rath Yatra enter the final phase. Lord Jagannath is all set to emerge from the Shree Jagannath Temple to offer darshan to millions of devotees, and the pilgrim town has been beautifully decorated to welcome the deities.

The Grand Road (Bada Danda), where the chariots will roll during the festival, has been adorned with intricate Jhoti Chita artwork, while decorative lights illuminate the city. The stretch from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple reverberates with devotional hymns, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.

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As part of the beautification drive, electric poles along the Grand Road have been decorated with artificial flowers in the three traditional colours of the Rath Yatra chariots—red, yellow and green. The decorations have given Puri a festive look, with the city appearing ready to receive the Holy Trinity.

Preparations for the festival are now in the final stages. Artists from across Odisha have been camping in Puri for over a week to create traditional Jhoti Chita designs in front of the Singhadwara of the Jagannath Temple and the Gundicha Temple. Traditional Odia motifs, including Tipi Chita, Chhata Chita and Kothi Chita, have been incorporated into the artwork, with the three chariot colours featuring prominently.

To enhance the devotional ambience, loudspeakers have been installed along the Grand Road, continuously playing bhajans dedicated to Lord Jagannath. The devotional music, coupled with the elaborate decorations, has filled the temple town with festive fervour ahead of the world-famous Rath Yatra.