Bhubaneswar: All preparations are complete for the annual Rath Yatra, the grand chariot festival of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, set to begin on Friday, June 27, in the holy city of Puri, Odisha. Final touches were applied to the majestic chariots today as the temple town prepares for the arrival of lakhs of devotees from across India and beyond.
In anticipation of the event, the servitors of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple performed the sacred ‘Agyan Mala Bije’ ritual on Thursday. This ceremony involved bringing ceremonial garlands from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum to the three chariots: Nandighosa (for Bhagwan Jagannath), Taladhwaja (for Bhagwan Balabhadra), and Darpadalana (for Devi Subhadra). These garlands symbolize divine approval for the commencement of the Rath Yatra.
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନବଯୌବନ ଦର୍ଶନ ଏବଂ ନେତ୍ରୋତ୍ସବ ନୀତି ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଭକ୍ତି ଭାବମୟ ପରିବେଶ l ଆଜ୍ଞାମାଳ ବିଜେ ହୋଇ ରଥଖଳାରୁ ନବନିର୍ମିତ ତିନି ରଥ ସିଂହଦ୍ୱାରରେ ଲାଗିବେ l#RathaJatra2025 #RathaYatra2025 #ShreeJagannathaDhaam pic.twitter.com/XfaToqvk8p
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) June 26, 2025
After the ritual, the three chariots were ceremonially pulled by servitors and police personnel and placed in front of the Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate) of the Shree Jagannath Temple.
Celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi (second day) of the bright fortnight of the Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar, the Rath Yatra is the most significant annual festival of the Shree Jagannath Temple. During this nine-day religious journey, the divine siblings travel in their chariots to the Gundicha Temple, believed to be their birthplace, located about 3 kilometers from the main temple. The festival attracts devotees from all backgrounds who come to witness this divine spectacle and receive darshan of the deities.
Detailed Schedule for Rath Yatra – June 27
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has released the official schedule of day-long rituals for this year’s Rath Yatra. The rituals will begin in the early morning and continue throughout the day, culminating in the grand pulling of the chariots in the afternoon.
- Mangala Alati: 6:00 AM
- Mailam: 6:10 AM
- Tadapa Lagi & Rosha Homa: 6:30 AM
- Abakasha: 7:00 AM
- Surya Puja: 7:10 AM
- Dwarapala Puja & Besha Sesha: 7:30 AM
- Gopala Ballabha & Sakala Dhupa: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
- Rath Pratistha: 9:00 AM
- Mangalarpana: 9:15 AM
The much-anticipated Pahandi Bije the grand procession of the deities from the temple to the chariots will take place from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
- Sri Madanmohan Bije: 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM
- Chitalagi & Besha Sesha: 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
- Chhera Pahanra: 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
- Charamala Phita, Installation of Ghoda and Sarathi: 4:00 PM
The pulling of the chariots is scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.
Extensive Security Arrangements for Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri
As the sacred Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra approaches, Puri has transformed into a high-security zone to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration. With lakhs of devotees expected to attend this grand spiritual event on June 27, the Odisha Police has implemented an elaborate, multi-layered security framework to manage the crowd and ensure public safety.
Nearly 10,000 police personnel will be stationed across Puri, supported by over 200 platoons of security forces, including dog squads, anti-drone systems, and elite central paramilitary units such as the BSF, CRPF, and RAF. These forces will collaborate with local police to maintain law and order throughout the festival, with eight dedicated companies deployed on the ground.
As part of the preparations, a full-scale chariot-pulling rehearsal took place at the Police Reserve Ground on Wednesday, involving all security units. This dry run simulated real-time scenarios for crowd management, cordon positioning, and emergency response, allowing officials to fine-tune logistics and ensure smooth coordination.
According to senior police officials, each chariot Nandighosa, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana will have multiple cordons to maintain proper separation between general devotees, security forces, and authorized personnel. For each rope of the chariot, two platoons of police personnel along with trained volunteers will be deployed. The innermost cordon will be closely monitored to prevent unauthorized access, with entry restricted to those holding valid cordon passes, reinforcing a zero-tolerance policy towards security breaches.
Each chariot will be supervised by two commandant-rank officers, supported by senior officers and supervisory staff. Public address systems will be installed for announcements, instructions, and real-time updates. A dummy chariot pull was conducted to ensure all measures were operational and that teams were familiar with their roles.
To enhance surveillance, the city has been divided into eight security zones, each assigned different responsibilities, including traffic control, temple security, inner cordon management, and emergency services. Senior officers will lead each zone to ensure efficient command and response.
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନବଯୌବନ ଦର୍ଶନ ଏବଂ ନେତ୍ରୋତ୍ସବ ନୀତି ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରୀକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ଭକ୍ତି ଭାବମୟ ପରିବେଶ l ଆଜ୍ଞାମାଳ ବିଜେ ହୋଇ ରଥଖଳାରୁ ନବନିର୍ମିତ ତିନି ରଥ ସିଂହଦ୍ୱାରରେ ଲାଗିବେ l#RathaJatra2025 #RathaYatra2025 #ShreeJagannathaDhaam pic.twitter.com/XfaToqvk8p
— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) June 26, 2025
Additionally, 275 CCTV cameras have been strategically installed throughout Puri, including along the Grand Road, around the temple, and at entry and exit points. These cameras will be monitored in real time from the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).
DGP Visits Integrated Command Centre, Reviews Security Arrangements for Rath Yatra 2025
In a significant development, Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania visited the ICCC in Puri to oversee final preparations and instruct senior officials on strict protocol enforcement. “Rath Yatra is not merely a religious event—it is a spiritual phenomenon that unites millions. Our goal is to ensure that this divine experience remains safe, organized, and memorable for every pilgrim,” he stated.
ଆଉ ଗୋଟିଏ ଦିନ!
ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତୀଙ୍କ ବିଶ୍ୱପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ରଥଯାତ୍ରାକୁ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଭାବେ ଆୟୋଜନ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପୋଲିସ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ। ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପୋଲିସ୍ ମହାନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଶ୍ରୀ ଯୋଗେଶ ବାହାଦୂର ଖୁରାନିଆଙ୍କ Integrated Command and Control Centre ପରିଦର୍ଶନ କରିବା ସହ ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କ ସୁରକ୍ଷାକୁ ସୁନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ… pic.twitter.com/LDtBH73VUu
— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) June 26, 2025
As part of a digital transformation initiative, the Odisha Police has launched a WhatsApp ChatBot service to provide real-time traffic updates, route guidance, and travel support for pilgrims. This tool is available for travelers using two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and buses, aiming to reduce congestion and simplify navigation through the city.
Security efforts extend beyond land, incorporating aerial and water surveillance using drones, watchtowers, and mobile patrol units to monitor crowd movement, detect anomalies, and respond quickly to emergencies.
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