Puri Gears Up For Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 With Grand Rituals, Security Drills, And Devotional Fervour

The sacred city of Puri in Odisha is abuzz with preparations for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, set to commence on June 27, 2025. The iconic chariot festival, which draws millions of devotees from across India and abroad, will culminate with the Bahuda Jatra (Return Car Festival) on July 5.  

Key highlights of the festival preparations  

- The three massive wooden chariots for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra are in the final stages of construction near the Jagannath Temple  
- The sacred bathing ritual, Snana Purnima, was observed on June 11, where the deities were ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of sanctified water  
- Following the Snana Yatra, the deities entered the Anavasara period (June 13–26), during which they remain hidden from public view for recuperation  

Security and crowd management measures  

- A multi-agency mock drill involving 11 security and emergency response teams was conducted to assess preparedness for any contingencies  
- Over 70 platoons of police, 450 officers, and four commandants will be deployed to ensure safety during the Yatra  
- Artificial intelligence-powered surveillance systems and CCTV cameras have been installed across key locations  
- Traffic will be managed through zonal divisions, with advisories issued for drone restrictions and crowd flow  

Government coordination and digital facilitation  

- A high-level ministerial committee, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, has been formed to oversee all festival arrangements  
- The Puri district administration has launched the Shree Jagannatha Dham mobile app to provide real-time updates on rituals, queue timings, and nearby facilities for devotees  

Cultural and spiritual significance  

- The Rath Yatra symbolizes the journey of the divine from the temple sanctum to the streets, allowing devotees to participate in the sacred procession  
- The three chariots—Nandighosha (16 wheels) for Lord Jagannath, Taladhwaja (14 wheels) for Lord Balabhadra, and Darpadalan (12 wheels) for Goddess Subhadra—are pulled by thousands of devotees to the Gundicha Temple  
- The return journey, Bahuda Yatra, will take place on July 5, marking the deities’ return to the Jagannath Temple  

Future outlook  

With meticulous planning, enhanced security, and deep-rooted devotion, the 2025 Jagannath Rath Yatra is poised to be a spiritually uplifting and logistically seamless celebration. The festival continues to be a powerful symbol of unity, tradition, and divine grace in India’s cultural landscape.  

Sources: Hindustan Times, Economic Times, NewsBytes, Moneycontrol, The Daily Jagran, MSN.

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