Odisha DGP rushes to Puri after chaos near Jagannath Temple during Panchuka rituals

Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania on Sunday rushed to Puri following a chaotic situation that broke out near the Jagannath Temple after a massive gathering of devotees during the sacred ‘Panchuka’ rituals of the holy Kartika month.

The DGP held an emergency high-level meeting with the DIG (Central Range), Puri SP, district collector, and senior officials of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) to review the situation and ensure crowd control measures around the 12th-century shrine.

According to officials, devotees were initially allowed entry only through the Singha Dwar (Lion’s Gate) on the eastern side. However, hundreds of devotees reportedly broke barricades and entered through the northern gate, triggering a brief spell of chaos.

Security personnel were immediately deployed to manage the crowd and restore order. The DGP directed officials to strengthen barricading and streamline the entry of devotees to prevent any recurrence of such incidents during the ongoing rituals.

The Panchuka period, marking the last five days of the Kartika month, attracts a massive footfall of devotees to the Jagannath Temple every year for special darshan and offerings.