A minor crowd surge occurred near the Dola Bedi gate of the iconic Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday during the grand Dola Jatra procession, resulting in minor injuries to a few devotees.
The incident happened as the processional live idols (Chalanti Pratima) were being moved to the Dola Bedi amid a heavy rush of devotees. According to reports, a woman devotee from Uttar Pradesh lost her balance after her ghagra got entangled in the melee. She fell, and two to three other women devotees also tumbled in the ensuing push, sustaining slight injuries.
Police personnel deployed at the spot immediately intervened, helping the women and rushing them to the hospital. After receiving prompt medical treatment, all the injured devotees were discharged and are now stable.
The Dola Jatra, also known as Dola Purnima or Dolotsav, is one of the major festivals at the Jagannath Temple. It marks the deities being taken out in colourful processions and placed on swings, coinciding with the festive spirit of Holi. Thousands of devotees, smeared in vibrant colours, gather for the celebrations, often leading to dense crowds during key rituals.
Temple authorities and the district administration had made elaborate arrangements for crowd management. Officials confirmed the situation was brought under control swiftly with no further disruption to the ongoing festivities.
This minor incident serves as a reminder of the challenges involved in managing large gatherings at one of India’s most revered shrines, which draws millions of pilgrims annually.
