Puri Administration Steps Up Preparations for Incident-Free Bahuda Yatra on July 5

Puri, July 4 — In the wake of the tragic stampede near Gundicha Temple that claimed three lives during the Rath Yatra, the Puri administration is taking every possible precaution to ensure a safe and incident-free Bahuda Yatra (Return Car Festival) scheduled for July 5.

Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, along with District Magistrate Chanchal Rana, Chief Temple Administrator Aravind Padhi, and other senior officials, held a crucial meeting with Daita servitors and temple priests at the Gundicha Temple to ensure the timely and smooth conduct of rituals associated with the deities’ return journey.

The minister also inspected the Integrated Command and Control Centre, where he emphasized the effective functioning of the newly installed AI-powered digital surveillance system for real-time crowd monitoring and management.

He further stated that repair and conservation work of the Ratna Bhandaras (temple treasury chambers) is nearing completion. Addressing concerns over the stampede incident, he attributed it to human error and expressed confidence that, with Lord Jagannath’s blessings, the Bahuda Yatra would proceed peacefully.

Preparations began soon after the observance of Herapanchami, with police personnel and devotees carefully repositioning the three chariots — Taladhwaja, Darpadalana, and Nandighosh — facing the main temple in a southward ritual movement known as Dakshina Moda.

The Sandhya Darshan (evening viewing) of the deities concluded at 6 PM on Thursday. Following this, the Daita servitors initiated the process of affixing protective armours like Chhena Patta, Kusumi, and Bahuta Kanta to the deities in preparation for the Pahandi Bije, the ceremonial procession.

Charamalas (ladders) were installed by Suansia servitors on both the Ratna Simhasan (bejeweled throne) inside the sanctum sanctorum and on the chariots to facilitate the Pahandi.

On July 5, the Bahuda Yatra day, rituals will begin early morning at 4 AM with Mangala Arati, followed by Mailum, Tadapa Lagi, Rosa Homa, Abakasha, Surya Puja, and Gopal Bhog. The deities will then be adorned in their travel attire.

The Goti Pahandi, where each deity is escorted one at a time from the Gundicha Temple to their respective chariots, is expected to begin by 12 noon and conclude by 2:30 PM. This will be followed by the revered Chhera Pahanra ritual, performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM.

By 4 PM, after the wooden horses are fixed, devotees will be allowed to pull the chariots in procession — starting with Taladhwaja (Lord Balabhadra), followed by Darpadalana (Devi Subhadra), and finally Nandighosh (Lord Jagannath).

Top district officials including SP Pinak Mishra are monitoring all security and logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually uplifting experience for devotees.

As per the temple bulletin, the remaining rituals of the Rath Yatra will include the Sunavesha (golden attire of the deities) on July 6, Adharpana offering on July 7, and Niladri Bije, the return of the deities to the sanctum of the main temple, on July 8.