The holy city of Puri is geared up for the sacred Snana Yatra, the ceremonial bathing festival of Lord Jagannath, scheduled for Wednesday. On this auspicious Deba Snana Purnima, the revered Chaturdha Bigraha (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan Chakra) will leave the Ratna Bedi (sanctum sanctorum) and proceed to the Snana Bedi for a divine bath with 108 pots of sanctified water. Following the ritual, the deities will adorn the Hati Besha (elephant attire), offering a spectacular darshan to devotees.
Anticipating a massive influx of devotees, the Puri district administration, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, and police have made elaborate arrangements to ensure a disciplined and safe celebration.
Puri SP Vinit Agrawal confirmed that comprehensive measures are in place to manage the expected crowd of over a lakh. Security arrangements include the deployment of four Superintendents of Police, 450 police officers, and 70 platoons of police force. For the first time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be utilised for crowd control, with an Integrated Control Room established to monitor the event.
Inside the Shree Jagannath Temple, special arrangements have been made for smooth darshan, with devotees entering through the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) and exiting via the other three gates. Barricades at Market Chhak will guide devotees to the Snana Bedi. To manage traffic, specific routes and parking zones have been designated for vehicles arriving from Brahmagiri, Bhubaneswar, and Konark. Key parking areas include Jail Road, Saradhabali, Blue Flag Beach, and Nilachal Ashok.
To ensure safety at the beach, lifeguards and fire services have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. Special provisions, including drinking water and heat-relief measures, have been arranged for devotees. Dedicated police teams will also curb pickpocketing and other crimes. Only designated servitors will be allowed near the deities during the rituals.
Post-Snana Yatra, it is believed that Lord Jagannath falls into a ritualistic fever, retreating to the Anasara Ghara for secluded worship. During this period, the deities will appear in the iconic Hati Besha, a cherished tradition of the Jagannath culture. Public darshan will remain closed until 2 PM on Wednesday, with the Sena Lagi ritual completed on Tuesday.
With robust security, meticulous traffic management, and devotee-centric facilities, Puri is all set to host a grand and orderly Snan Yatra, celebrating the divine splendor of Lord Jagannath.
