The holy city of Puri is all set to celebrate Rath Yatra 2025 today, as final preparations are completed and lakhs of devotees converge to witness the divine chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra.
According to the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the sacred procession will begin at 4 PM, following the completion of traditional rituals. SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee assured smooth conduct of the event, lauding the support of servitors and coordinated administrative efforts.
By Thursday evening, over 1 lakh devotees had already reached Puri, many of whom were blessed with the Nabajouban Darshan—a special glimpse of the deities after their two-week seclusion in the ‘Anasar Ghar’ following the Snana Purnima bathing ritual held on June 11.
With crowd numbers expected to surge further, Odisha DGP Y.B. Khurania announced a five-tier security plan. About 10,000 security personnel, including Central Armed Police Forces, NSG snipers, anti-sabotage units, drone teams, and dog squads have been deployed.
For the first time, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been established to oversee live surveillance through 275 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, covering not only Puri but also roads leading to Konark.
The Marine Police, Coast Guard, and Indian Navy are patrolling the coastal belt to prevent any untoward incidents.
To manage the massive influx, the Indian Railways is running 365 special trains, while the Odisha government has arranged 800 buses across the state. Help desks and monitoring stations have also been set up at key transport hubs.
Meanwhile, the IMD has issued a weather alert predicting thunderstorms with gusty winds (30–40 kmph) in several districts, including Puri, during the festival.
