Naveen flays delay in pulling chariot
Bhubaneswar: Expressing anguish over the 'terrible mess' in the conduct of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri this year, Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Saturday prayed to the almighty to forgive those responsible for the development.
Patnaik, who is recuperating at a hospital in Mumbai after surgery, in a post on X said: 'We aren't here to point fingers or blame the administration for inordinate delay in pulling the Nandighosha (Lord Jagannath's) chariot.
But it's impossible not to voice our deep concern and anguish over how things unfolded during the most sacred event in our State.'
Patnaik also mentioned that it is hard to forget how, last year, Lord Balabhadra's idol slipped during the 'Adapa Bije Pahandi' (procession on the way to Shree Gundicha temple), a moment that left countless devotees shaken.
'And now this year, we witnessed Lord Jagannath's chariot standing at the Singhadwar (Lion's Gate of the 12th-century shrine) till 7.45 pm, only to move a few metres before the day ended,' Patnaik said in a long social media post.
'That understandably has left lakhs of devotees, who came from all over the world to witness this unique event, completely disenchanted and disillusioned,' the former chief minister said.
Patnaik said hundreds of devotees also got injured due to poor crowd management. 'All we can do is pray: May Mahaprabhu Jagannath forgive all those responsible for the terrible mess that has overshadowed this divine festival this year. I hope it leads to deep introspection by all in government,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
6 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Odisha stampede: Congress demands CM Majhi's resignation, judicial probe
Addressing a press conference at the Congress' Indira Bhawan headquarters in Delhi, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka and party leader Arabinda Das said the Rath Yatra is not merely an event but is a 1,200-year-old living tradition.
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- India Gazette
Odisha: Devotees throng Puri on fourth day of annual Rath Yatra
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 30 (ANI): On the fourth day of Rath Yatra, devotees gathered in large numbers to witness and be part of the grand event. The Rath Yatra began on June 27 from Jagannath Temple here. July 5 will mark the conclusion of the event, known as 'Bahuda Yatra'. A devotee named Anita, who got the opportunity to pull the chariot, shared her excitement and said, 'We have been feeling lucky for the last two days because when we first came here, the Lord gave us darshan on the chariot. There was a huge crowd, but even amidst that, it seemed like he was protecting us.' 'After the stampede yesterday morning, our family members were worried. However, we don't feel any chaos here. Everything is good here and everyone is kind. We are very blessed to see such beautiful scenes,' she further added. Another devotee, Deepak Rawat, who was attending the Rath Yatra for the first time, said, 'I have come here for the first time and Lord Jagannath has given me a wonderful opportunity to pull the chariot. I want to thank Lord Jagannath so that he can provide such opportunities to everyone and fulfil everyone's wishes.' Three devotees lost their lives and several others were injured in Sunday's stampede at the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan called the stampede 'very unfortunate' and said that appropriate action will be taken after the completion of investigation. 'The incident is very unfortunate. The state government has taken strict action and a senior officer will investigate the incident. We will take action once we get the report of the investigation,' Harichandan told reporters. He added, 'Mahaprabhu, with his wish, he gives darshan to his devotees. Tomorrow, the devotees will have the opportunity to offer prayers. I prayed to Mahaprabhu for the well-being of everyone.' Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a financial assistance of 25 lakh to the families of each deceased devotee. He also assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible and pledged to prevent such tragedies in the future. Following the incident, the state government has ordered a high-level administrative inquiry to be supervised by the Development Commissioner. Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra has been appointed in place of the previous SP, and Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain has been replaced by Chanchal Rana. Odisha DCP Vishnu Pati and Commandant Ajay Padhi were also suspended for negligence of duty. (ANI)
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Stampedes, war, plane crash, and floods: India's 2025 mid-year report paints a tragic picture
India faced a challenging six months. Stampedes at Kumbh Mela, New Delhi Railway Station, Bengaluru, and Puri caused many deaths. A terror attack occurred in Pahalgam. India and Pakistan had military confrontations. An Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad. Floods and landslides affected northeastern India and Himachal Pradesh. These events resulted in numerous casualties, injuries, and displacement across the country. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Stampedes kill scores at religious and public events Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India-Pakistan tensions Air India flight crash Floods and landslides India has witnessed one of the most difficult six-month periods in recent memory. A series of deadly stampedes, an aviation disaster, military confrontation with Pakistan, and widespread flooding have left hundreds dead and many more injured or displaced. As the country steps into the second half of 2025, it carries the weight of these crises while bracing for what may come next. Kumbh Stampede : The year began with a tragedy at one of India's largest religious gatherings. On January 29, a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj killed 30 people and injured 60. The incident occurred around 2 am when large crowds were gathering at the Sangam. According to police, barricades placed at the ghats broke, causing people to step on devotees who were resting on the weeks later, on February 15, 18 people were killed and 15 injured in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. The victims, mostly pilgrims heading to Prayagraj, were caught in chaos on platforms 12, 13, and 14. Delhi Police attributed the panic to delays and confusion between the Prayagraj Express and the Prayagraj Special trains amid June 4, celebrations turned tragic in Bengaluru. After Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first IPL title, massive crowds gathered near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. A stampede occurred, killing 11 people and injuring 33 as lakhs of fans crowded the than a month later, another stampede struck during the Rath Yatra in Puri on June 29. Three people died and more than 50 were injured. The incident raised new concerns about public safety at major events, especially after the Bengaluru April 22, 2025, five militants from The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, opened fire in the Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam tourist spot. They targeted 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, and 20 others were injured. The attackers used AK-47s and M4 carbines, reportedly questioning victims' religion before executing them. One local Muslim pony operator was also killed as he tried to interveneIn May, relations between India and Pakistan reached a critical point. A terror attack in Pahalgam prompted India to launch airstrikes on May 7. The operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to government sources, over 100 militants were responded by launching drones and missiles on Indian cities in Punjab and Rajasthan. The exchange escalated into a four-day conflict, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides. A ceasefire was reached on May 11, but tensions continue to March 22, Air India flight AI 171 crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down in a residential area, hitting two buildings. The crash killed all 242 passengers and crew on board. It marked India's worst aviation accident in over a monsoon rains caused widespread flooding in northeastern India starting in late May. According to Sphere India, at least 47 people died due to floods and landslides — 17 in Assam, 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura, and one in Assam alone, more than four lakh people across 15 districts were affected, as per the state's disaster management authority. In Manipur, flash floods displaced over 56,000 people due to overflowing rivers and breached from June 22 to 29, Himachal Pradesh saw flash floods that killed 17 people and caused heavy damage to roads and bridges. Early estimates by the state's Public Works Department placed the damage at Rs 300 crore. Northern states, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, continue to experience the impact of ongoing rains.
