The sacred Panchuka Brata began with devotion and grandeur at major shrines across Odisha on Saturday, including the revered Baba Dhabaleswar Peeth in Cuttack.
Thousands of devotees thronged the temple early in the morning to witness the holy rituals marking the start of the auspicious observance.
Baba Appears in Ashutosh Besha
On the first day of Panchuka, Lord Dhabaleswar appeared in the divine Ashutosh Besha. This year, as Panchuka spans four days instead of five, devotees will witness the Lord adorned in five different attires over the course of the observance.
A temple priest shared,
“The Dwara Phita Niti was performed at 3:00 am, followed by Baba’s ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of fragrant water. After the Mangala Alati and offering of Balya Bhoga, devotees were allowed darshan of the Lord.”
Security and Crowd Management in Cuttack
With a massive influx of devotees expected, authorities have implemented stringent security and crowd control measures.
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Barricades have been installed from the temple premises to the concrete bridge.
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32 CCTV cameras have been placed for real-time monitoring.
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ODRAF and Fire Services teams are on standby for any emergency.
Additionally, 15 platoons of police, including two Additional SPs, eight DSPs, and over 20 IICs, have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the rituals and maintain order throughout the celebrations.
Traffic and Parking Arrangements
Special traffic management plans have been rolled out to facilitate hassle-free movement:
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Devotees on two-wheelers can travel from Nuapatna Chhak to the Paikarapur vehicle stand.
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Those in four-wheelers can take the Nuapatna Chhak–NH-55–Bali Chhak–Suniamuhan route to reach the Bidyadharpur and Dhabaleswar Fandi Padiya parking zones.
Clear signage and volunteers are stationed along key routes to guide pilgrims and prevent congestion.
Four-Day Panchuka Observance at Puri Srimandir
The Panchuka rituals will also commence at Puri Srimandir on Sunday. This year, the observance will last four days instead of the traditional five.
During this period:
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Devotees can have darshan of Lord Jagannath only from the outer barricade (Bahara Katha).
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On Kartika Purnima, inner darshan (Bhitara Katha) will be allowed after the first Bhoga Mandap ritual.
Lakhs of devotees are expected to visit Srikshetra to offer prayers and observe fasting during these sacred days marking the conclusion of the holy month of Kartika.
Enhanced Security in Puri
To ensure smooth management of the large crowds, security has been tightened in and around Puri Srimandir.
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Devotees will enter only through the Singhadwara, while the other three gates will serve as exits.
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Barricades along the Bada Danda have been extended to manage queues.
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40 platoons of police will be on duty for crowd regulation and safety.
The administration has emphasized devotee safety, orderly movement, and smooth conduct of rituals throughout the Panchuka observance.
