Puri, Dec 30: In anticipation of the large influx of devotees and tourists for the New Year 2025 celebrations in the pilgrim town, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and local police have made extensive arrangements to ensure smooth darshan of the deities and efficient movement of visitors.
The SJTA issued a statement outlining that, for darshan, entry to the 12th-century shrine will be restricted to the Singhadwar (Lion's Gate). Devotees will exit through the remaining three gates, and general visitors will only be allowed entry via the Singhadwar. However, this restriction will not apply to servitors and their families, who may enter or exit through any gate.
Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of the SJTA, requested the cooperation of all devotees to facilitate the orderly darshan of Lord Jagannath, emphasizing the importance of this arrangement, which will be in place on December 31 and January 1.
In addition to the temple’s internal arrangements, the Puri district administration and police have implemented comprehensive security measures for the devotees. Barricades have been set up from Singhadwar to Market Square to manage the flow of people entering the temple in an organized manner.
To manage the large crowds, DIG (Central) Charan Singh Meena announced the deployment of 60 platoons (each consisting of 30 personnel), along with 10 additional Superintendents of Police (SPs), 33 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 62 inspectors, 245 sub-inspectors, and assistant sub-inspectors.
Two police teams will be stationed inside the temple, with special anti-snatching squads on standby. Furthermore, arrangements for traffic management and parking have been set up for tourists and devotees arriving from various locations.
