Cops carry out chariot pulling rehearsal in Puri
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Bhubaneswar: With Rath Yatra just one day away, Odisha police on Wednesday carried out a rehearsal in Puri to train personnel in chariot pulling procedures. Adequate security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of Nabajouban Darshan ceremony on Thursday.
The practice session involved three jeeps serving as substitute chariots, which police personnel pulled. Officers received detailed instructions about their specific duties for ensuring a smooth chariot pulling ceremony.
From the total 205 police platoons assigned for the Rath Yatra, 72 platoons will specifically oversee chariot pulling. "Our priorities include maintaining clear pathways for chariots and establishing security cordons to regulate devotee movement near the chariots," said SP (Puri) Vinit Agrawal.
Officers received strict instructions to maintain vigilance to prevent accidents. On a few previous celebrations, police officers, servitors and devotees who fell while pulling the chariots have been injured. "Foolproof crowd control and stampede prevention measures have been taken to ensure that the chariots are pulled without any untoward incidents," said Agrawal.
After remaining out of bounds for devotees for a fortnight, sibling gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and goddess Subhadra are all set to grant darshan to countless devotees on the occasion of Nabajouban Darshan on Thursday.
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Nabajouban Darshan is an essential ceremony preceding Rath Yatra.
The Nabajouban Darshan holds particular importance as the deities have recovered from their symbolic ailment after their ceremonial bath during Debasnan Purnima on June 11. Following tradition, the deities will present themselves to visitors in their renewed form inside the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday and on chariots on Friday.
Temple authorities said herbal paint was applied on the faces of the deities. "Similar to humans preparing for significant occasions, the deities receive special preparation before Rath Yatra. The makeup is essential as the sibling deities' faces became pale during their 15-day treatment," explained Sanjay Kumar Duttamohapatra, a servitor.
Anticipating large crowds, police have put in place necessary arrangements. "We will organise devotees in queues for temple entry. Our officers will provide all required support to visitors," said the SP.
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