Puri, July 25: In view of the sacred ‘Suna Besha of Lord Jagannath’, the Puri district administration has ordered the closure of all liquor outlets, including country liquor shops, foreign liquor shops, bars, and bhang shops across the Puri Municipality area and the Puri sub-division.

District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida issued the order, stating that bars and restaurants serving liquor will also remain closed as part of the security and crowd management measures for the religious event.

The decision has led to disappointment among liquor consumers, as shops have remained shut for two consecutive days due to the Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha celebrations. Many have reportedly moved towards nearby rural areas in search of liquor. A large crowd was witnessed outside a liquor shop in Sakhigopal on Friday afternoon.

The ‘Bada Tadau Suna Besha’, one of the most revered appearances of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, is scheduled to take place after the deities return on their chariots. Devotees will be allowed to have darshan of the golden attire from 5 PM, with the ritual expected to conclude by around 6:30 PM.

The district administration has made extensive arrangements for the smooth darshan of the deities, anticipating the arrival of lakhs of devotees in Puri. The restrictions on liquor and bhang outlets have been implemented to ensure a peaceful and orderly atmosphere during the grand religious gathering.