With just hours left for the arrival of the New Year 2026, the holy city of Puri is witnessing a massive surge in devotees and tourists flocking to the iconic Shri Jagannath Temple. Lakhs of pilgrims are already thronging the temple town, leading to long queues and heightened activity around the shrine.
In anticipation of 4 to 5 lakh visitors over the New Year’s Eve and Day, the Puri district administration and police have rolled out comprehensive security and crowd management measures. More than 60 platoons of police force have been deployed across the city, supported by senior officers including commandants, additional SPs, DSPs, inspectors, and sub-inspectors.
The entire city is under extensive CCTV coverage, with 152 cameras inside the temple and 192 outside. Barricades have been erected starting from Market Chhak to ensure orderly queues, while devotees will enter only through the Singhadwara (Lion Gate) and exit via the other three gates for smooth one-way traffic inside the temple.
To facilitate darshan amid the rush, the temple will close briefly at 11 PM on December 31 for the deities’ rest ritual and reopen at 2 AM on January 1, 2026. Experts and locals predict that devotees may face waits of 5 to 6 hours for darshan, with potential traffic chaos in the city.
Puri Police have issued a strict advisory: No mobile phones, cameras, headphones, smart watches, or food items are allowed inside the temple. All government employees’ leaves have been cancelled to ensure full support for crowd control. An integrated control room will operate round-the-clock.
These enhanced arrangements aim to provide a safe and disciplined experience for pilgrims welcoming the New Year with Lord Jagannath’s blessings.
