A high-level preparatory meeting for the world-famous Puri Rath Yatra-2026 was convened today by the Information & Public Relations Department.
The meeting, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma, focused on ensuring seamless execution of the department’s responsibilities during the grand festival.
Senior officials reviewed last year’s activities and finalized plans for the upcoming Rath Yatra. The department will set up temporary Information Centres at key locations in Puri, including Singhadwar, Balagandi, Badashankha, Jagannath Ballav Math, Digabareni, Gundicha Bari, Malatipatapur, Subhash Bose Chowk, Panth Bhawan, Talabania, Railway Station, Shree Danda, Matia Pada Chowk, Atharnala, and Jagannath Ballav Parking area.
To reach the maximum number of devotees, the department has planned extensive live telecasts, common feed arrangements, and the installation of LED screens/displays along major routes, including the Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway. This is the first time such large-scale LED-based dissemination of real-time information will be implemented.
A vibrant cultural programme has also been chalked out. Traditional folk arts such as Pala, Daskathia, and Ghoda Nach will be performed at the Information Centres, while popular bhajan singers will perform every evening at the open-air stage near Gundicha Temple. Special editions of Utkal Prasanga and Odisha Review on Rath Yatra, along with Jagannath Janana, will be published and made available for sale.
The department will also ensure wide media coverage through television, photography, radio jingles, and advertisements. Hoardings displaying Chief Minister’s goodwill messages and information on various state government development initiatives will be put up at strategic locations on the Cuttack-Puri National Highway. Extensive publicity will be carried out through newspapers and social media platforms.
Special arrangements will be made for state-level media persons visiting Puri during the festival. Discussions were also held on setting up Information Centres in other districts where Rath Yatra is celebrated.
Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma directed all officials to work in a coordinated manner to make the arrangements successful and devotee-friendly. He emphasized the need for smooth functioning of the Information Centres and LED displays.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Behuria, Director Anuj Kumar Das Pattnaik, Technical Director Gurveer Singh, Joint Director Sucheta Priyadarshini, District Information & Public Relations Officer (Puri) Santosh Kumar Sethi, and other senior officials.
The press note was issued by Bibhuti Nayak, Public Relations Officer.
