Bhubaneswar: The stage is set for the annual Rath Yatra festival scheduled to be held in the pilgrim town of Puri even as the Met office here predicted heavy rainfall in the coastal areas of the state Sunday.
The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), meanwhile, has warned devotees against touching deities during Pahandi or climbing chariots.
Thousands of devotees have converged in the town while the district administration expects a congregation of 10 lakh people during the festival notwithstanding the rainfall prediction.
The Pahandi of Trinity will be under CCTV scanner. No devotee will be allowed to touch the deities during the ritual. Devotees have also been barred from climbing the chariots. ‘‘We have displayed this clearly in four languages desisting the devout from doing such activities,’’ said the Chief Administrator of SJTA while making it clear that stern action will be taken against the devotees who are caught in such acts.
Three majestic chariots – Nandighosha (Lord Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra) and Darpadalan (Subhadra) – have been kept ready before the 12th century Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The devotees will pull the three chariots on the Grand Road to the Gundicha Temple, about 3-km from the main temple.
The state government has provided several transportation facilities to ferry the devotees.
The Indian Railways has decided to run 186 special trains during the festival, said an official of the East Coast Railway, while the state government has announced plying of 272 special buses to Puri from different parts of the state.
Hundreds of police personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the festival at designated areas.
Director general of police (DGP) KB Singh said elaborate security arrangements have been made for the festival. Four inspectors general (IG) rank police officials have been engaged with the deployment of 127 platoons of police and hundreds of other police officials to ensure smooth conduct of the festival, he added.
Health Minister Pratap Jena has directed Food Safety Commissioner to make vigorous checking of foods sold in hotels , all fast food centres and water pouches, water bottles in Puri during car festival.
‘‘We have forecast heavy rainfall in coastal region and small amount of downpour in interior parts of the state in the next 24 hours,’’ IMD director Sarat Sahu said.
Post News Network
