In a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, discussions focused on ensuring the smooth and disciplined conduct of rituals and puja at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting, held at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall, emphasised preparations for the upcoming Jagar Utsav, scheduled for February 15, aiming to manage crowds effectively and provide an orderly darshan experience for devotees.
Chief Secretary Garg highlighted that Lord Lingaraj is the revered deity for devotees across Odisha, and any lapse in rituals would be unacceptable. With the Jagar festival expected to draw large crowds, she stressed the need for a comprehensive roadmap to control unnecessary gatherings and facilitate disciplined access for all worshippers. “The enthusiasm among devotees for darshan on Jagar day poses a significant challenge in crowd management,” Garg noted, underscoring that even minor deviations could lead to unforeseen incidents.
The meeting called for collaborative efforts involving senior state government officials, police administration, fire services, temple servitors, and the public to tackle these challenges. Key measures discussed included timely completion of rituals, coordination with servitors and niyogs (temple committees), and ensuring devotee health and safety through adequate ventilation, oxygen supply, and fire safety arrangements inside the temple.
Additionally, the administration plans to disseminate ritual schedules through various media channels, including TV, radio, print, and digital platforms, to keep the public informed. To execute the festival seamlessly, experienced senior officers will be assigned additional responsibilities based on past expertise.
Attendees at the meeting included Law Department Principal Secretary Dr. Pabitra Mohan Samal, Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutta Singh, Endowment Commissioner Lalatendu Jena, Additional Police Commissioner Narasingh Bhol, Law Department Additional Secretary Shiba Prasad Mohapatra, and Bhubaneswar Additional District Magistrate Ramesh Kumar Jena, among others.
This initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to preserving the sanctity of Lingaraj Temple’s traditions while prioritising devotee safety during major festivals.
