Puri: The Suna Besha attire of Srimandir idols has glued the devotees to the chariots docked in front of the holy shrine more than the rituals of Srigundicha and Bahuda Yatras.
According to Tourism department sources, more than 12 lakh devotees had witnessed the Suna Besha ritual of the three deities Tuesday. However, only six lakh devotees turned up for this year’s Srigundicha Yatra, June 25. Similarly, around four lakh devotees witnessed the celestial Bahuda Yatra event Monday.
According to sources, the tourism department had started collecting data on devotees’ congregation in the city during Suna Besha ritual of 2015. Earlier, the department had taken steps to estimate footfalls of pilgrims for the annual Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra.
According to data, altogether 10, 26, 354 devotees visited the city during the Nabakalebara Yatra in 2015. Similarly, the Pilgrim City was witness to 8, 86,752 devotees during that year’s Bahuda. However, the Suna Besha ritual at Srimandir had drawn 12, 43, 633 pilgrims to the city in 2015.
Tourism department sources said eight lakh pilgrims had attended the Srigundicha Yatra in 2016 and the number fell to three lakh during the Bahuda Yatra. But, 12 lakh devotees had turned up for the Suna Besha ritual last year.
“It was learnt that more devotees had witnessed the Suna Besha rituals than Ratha Yatras in the last three years,” said a source in the tourism department.
Social activists, meanwhile, blamed heavy traffic regulations for poor turnout during Rath Yatra and Bahuda. “Police had built 98 barricades to regulate traffic during this year’s Rath Yatra. Devotees were forced to walk at least five kilometers to reach Badadanda,” said a social activist. However, some pilgrims opined that delays in the performance of rituals during the Yatra are discouraging them to visit the holy city. “Pilgrims face difficulties going back to their respective towns if the rituals are delayed. Hence, they like to attends the Suna Besha ritual as it requires comparatively less time,” said a local.
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