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New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Lord! Stuck on grand road
PURI: Inexplicable delay marked the Rath Yatra as none of the three chariots could even be pulled half the distance from Shree Jagannath Temple en route to Gundicha Temple and chaos reigned supreme at the annual festival of the holy Trinity on Friday. Erratic movement of Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja and an uncontrollable crowd triggered a chain of events in which Nandighosha, Lord Jagannath's chariot which is the last to be pulled, could barely move a few metres and had to halt for the night along Badadanda (Grand Road) at around 7.45 pm. By the end of the day, which was well into the evening, Taladhwaja was stationed at Balgandi Chhak, while Devi Subhadra's Darpadalana had to be stopped at Marichikot. Lord Jagannath's chariot was pulled for just about 10 metres in a ritualistic manner and halted close to Singhadwara (Lions' Gate) of Shree Jagannath temple. Temple chief administrator Arabinda Padhee informed that pulling of the three chariots will resume at 9.30 am on Saturday. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said despite some delay in the beginning, rituals were completed on time. 'Everything happens as per the Lord's wish. It is the Lord's blessing that this year's Rath Yatra was incident-free,' the minister said. As per the schedule, 'pahandi' or ushering in of the deities was to start by 9.30 am and end at 11.30 am. However, the 'dhadi pahandi' of the Trinity began nearly two hours late and after Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati offered his prayers to the deities atop their chariots, 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual by Puri King Dibyasingha Deb started at around 2.30 pm. By 3.30 pm, the 'charamala' of the three chariots were removed one by one and wooden horses were fixed. While temple administration was at loss to clarify on what led to the delay in pulling of Taladhwaja, overcrowding and uncontrolled pulling of the chariot was witnessed right from the beginning.
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First Post
8 hours ago
- General
- First Post
Rath Yatra: Over 500 devotees injured due to overcrowding in Odisha's Puri, many fell ill amid intense heat
Much of the chaos unfolded near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, trapping several devotees read more Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra at the Jagannath Temple, on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra festival, in Puri, Odisha, on Thursday. (Image: PTI) Over 500 people attending the annual Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri were injured as crowds surged to pull the chariots as part of an age-old tradition. Many injuries were also caused by heat and humidity, health officials have said. The injured devotees were taken to nearby hospitals in ambulances that were already on standby near Lord Jagannath Temple. No casualties have been reported so far. The Rath Yatra festival was celebrated across the country on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Devotees gather to witness and be a part of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which began yesterday, in Odisha's Puri. — ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025 Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, 'One or two devotees collapsed due to the weather conditions, but rescue teams responded quickly and took them to the hospital.' The minister added that the government is ensuring that the affected people receive proper treatment. Much of the chaos unfolded near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra's chariot, Taladhwaja, was stuck for over an hour. The prolonged stoppage led to heavy crowding, trapping several devotees, some of whom were injured while attempting to escape the congestion. Authorities attributed the delay to difficulties in manoeuvring the chariot at a critical turn, which slowed the procession and intensified the congestion. The situation worsened as a surge of devotees entered restricted areas, further hindering the chariot's movement. #WATCH | Puri, Odisha | Ambulances reached the Rath Yatra spot after some people complained of suffocation and were reported unconscious due to humidity. The affected people were taken to the hospital and were provided with the required medical assistance — ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While thousands of people pulled the chariots, lakhs of others also reached the seaside temple town to participate in the festival. An estimated one million devotees gathered in Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, officials said. Meanwhile, Lord Jagannath devotees will get another chance to pull the chariots on Saturday as none of them reached their destination on Friday after Balabhadra's Taladwaja chariot got stuck. With inputs from agencies
India Gazette
12 hours ago
- Health
- India Gazette
Some devotees fall unconscious due to humid conditions during Puri Rath Yatra; prompt medical response ensues
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): Some people experienced suffocation and reportedly fell unconscious due to high humidity during the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri on Friday, prompting an immediate medical response, officials said. According to officials, ambulances were rushed to the spot after some people complained of breathing difficulties and were reported unconscious due to the humidity. Those affected were quickly shifted to nearby hospitals and provided with necessary medical assistance. Speaking on the incident, Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, 'Due to high humidity, one or two devotees collapsed. The rescue teams took them to the hospital immediately. There are primary health care centres in the temple area. I am also here to make sure glucose and water are being provided adequately. I will also visit the hospital to make sure that proper healthcare is being provided to those who may need it.' The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Odisha's Puri on Friday, with thousands of devotees pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, amidst chants, drumbeats, and spiritual fervour. Following the completion of key rituals, including the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping ceremony) performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the deities were ceremonially placed on their respective chariots -- Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. With the blowing of conch shells and rhythmic beating of cymbals and mridangas, the pulling of the chariots began along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), marking the start of the deities' annual journey. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered prayers to Lord Jagannath during the Ratha Yatra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of the Jagannath Rath Yatra on Friday. Taking to his official 'X' handle, PM Modi wished for everyone's 'happiness, prosperity, good fortune, and excellent health.' 'On the sacred occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, my heartfelt best wishes to all fellow countrymen. May this holy festival of faith and devotion bring happiness, prosperity, good fortune, and excellent health to everyone's life. Jai Jagannath!', PM Modi's 'X' post read. (ANI)
India Gazette
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Gajendra Shekhawat join devotees in grand Rath Yatra celebrations in Puri
Puri (Odisha) [India], June 27 (ANI): As the annual Rath Yatra began in Odisha's Puri on Friday, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat participated in the celebrations and offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, joining lakhs of devotees gathered to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. Speaking to the media, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, 'The first ritual of the Jagannath Yatra has been completed. All three siblings have reached the chariots... I am satisfied with the arrangements made by the state government...' Earlier in the day, Union Ministers Pradhan and Shekhawat visited and appreciated the state-of-the-art Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Puri, developed by the Odisha Police in collaboration with the homegrown startup IG Drones. The ICCC has been pivotal in ensuring safety and efficiency during the world-famous Rath Yatra, marking a significant milestone in modernised crowd and security management with 500 CCTVs, drones, anti-drone systems, and AI analytics. Thousands of devotees gathered in Puri to witness the grand spectacle, chanting hymns as the sweeping ritual marked the start of the deities' annual nine-day sojourn. The grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Odisha's Puri on Friday, as thousands of devotees began pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, amidst chants, drumbeats, and spiritual fervour. Following the completion of key rituals, including the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping ceremony) performed by Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the deities were ceremonially placed on their respective chariots -- Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana. With the blowing of conch shells and rhythmic beating of cymbals and mridangas, the pulling of the chariots began along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), marking the start of the deities' annual journey. The 'Chhera Pahanra' is one of the most significant customs of the Rath Yatra, symbolising humility and equality before the divine. During the ritual, the Gajapati Maharaja, the erstwhile King of Puri and chief servitor of Lord Jagannath, swept around the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra with a golden broom, sprinkling sandalwood water and flowers, and invoking blessings to purify the path of the divine journey. Dressed in traditional attire, the Gajapati Maharaja arrived in a royal procession from the Puri royal palace to the Grand Road, where the deities were placed on their respective chariots. His ceremonial act represents the deep intertwining of royalty and devotion in Jagannath culture. (ANI)
Time of India
18 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Puri Rath Yatra 2025: What caused the delay in chariot pulling rituals?
The 2025 Rath Yatra in Puri faced an unexpected delay. This happened during the chariot-pulling. Lord Balabhadra's chariot faced maneuvering issues. A large crowd also disrupted the procession. Officials cited the turnout as a challenge. They plan to improve crowd management for future events. Rath Yatra is a major Hindu festival in Puri, Odisha. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads About Rath Yatra: The 2025 Rath Yatra in Puri, one of India's most revered religious events, experienced an unexpected delay during the chariot-pulling rituals, prompting concern and curiosity among devotees and per a report of Odisha-based OTV, the main cause of the disruption was a challenge in maneuvering Lord Balabhadra's Taladhwaja chariot at a key turning point on the Grand Road (Bada Danda). The massive, manually pulled wooden chariot took longer than usual to realign, temporarily bringing the sacred procession to a to the delay was the overwhelming crowd. A surge of devotees, far surpassing official estimates, entered cordoned-off areas despite strict security measures. This not only disrupted the flow of the chariots but also hampered coordination between the sevayats (temple servitors) and police Puri district administration and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) acknowledged the situation, citing the unexpected turnout as a major logistical challenge. According to a report by OTV, officials assured that lessons learned from the delay will be used to improve crowd management during the upcoming Bahuda Yatra and future Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is an annual Hindu celebration in Puri, Odisha, marking Lord Jagannath 's journey to Gundicha Temple with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Held in the month of Ashadh (June–July), it is the oldest and largest Hindu chariot procession in India, drawing millions of devotees from across the globe.
