Jaganath Rath Yaatra in Odisha festival.

Discover how the police in Odisha are gearing up to handle the crowds during the Rath Yatra.                             

                                                                                                         

As the Rath Yatra approaches, the Odisha police are gearing up to manage the expected crowds. With arrangements and accommodations for pilgrims already in place, the excitement is building for this grand ceremony that draws in thousands of devotees.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri is set to kick off on June 27, and officials are keenly aware that managing traffic will be a significant challenge. Dayal Gangwar, the Additional Director General (ADG) of Traffic, shared insights into their preparations, stating, "We’re establishing 21 parking spots and setting up five 'holding areas' to help manage the influx of people during peak times. The main parking will be at three key locations." In a bid to enhance the experience for attendees, technology will play a crucial role this year. ADG Gangwar mentioned, "We’ll be utilizing apps to keep everyone informed and provide better facilities." The festival features three enormous chariots representing the Holy Trinity—Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Goddess Subhadra—crafted for the annual celebration at the Puri Jagannath Temple. During the festivities, devotees will pull the three deities in their massive wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they will stay for a week before returning to the Jagannath Temple. To ensure everything runs smoothly, a multi-agency mock drill was recently conducted at Dharamshala, right in front of the Shri Jagannath Temple. Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vineet Agarwal emphasized the importance of this exercise, noting that it was crucial for assessing readiness and coordination in case of any emergencies.