Elaborate Arrangements in Puri for Peaceful and Safe Diwali Celebrations

Puri, Oct 20 : As Diwali approaches, the holy town of Puri is gearing up for grand yet safe celebrations, with authorities putting in place extensive arrangements to ensure smooth festivities.

The Puri Police have issued an advisory urging devotees to use only green crackers and restrict bursting to 9 pm. Firecracker vendors have been instructed to sell only eco-friendly variants to curb environmental and safety hazards. Superintendent of Police Pratik Singh appealed to parents to guide their children while bursting crackers to prevent accidents.

To maintain law and order and manage the festive crowd, 28 platoons of police personnel have been deployed across key locations, including the Sri Jagannath Temple. Four designated spots near the Simhadwar have been earmarked for devotees traveling from distant places to pay homage to their ancestors by lighting traditional jute-stick torches.

Vehicular movement will be allowed up to the Municipal Market Square, and devotees can perform rituals from 4 am to 10 pm on both days, as per the advisory. Firefighting units will remain on high alert to tackle any fire-related incidents. Recent police raids have led to the seizure of illegal firecrackers worth several lakhs of rupees from unauthorized traders.

With Diwali coinciding with holidays, Puri is witnessing a significant influx of tourists. Most hotels and restaurants are fully booked and brightly decorated for the festive season. The Dakshinkali Temple at Bira Gobindapur, along the Puri–Bhubaneswar National Highway, attracts lakhs of devotees every Diwali. To manage traffic and crowd in the area, six platoons of police have been deployed, according to the SP.

Authorities have assured that all measures are in place to ensure that devotees and tourists can celebrate Diwali in a safe, orderly, and joyous manner.