Today marks the start of Puri's Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024;
President Droupadi Murmu will be there for two days.
7/7/2024,
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2024: Normally a one-day celebration,
this year's Rath Yatra for Lord Jagannath will actually take place across two
days because of certain celestial preparations.
In 2024, Jagannath Rath Yatra, a historic two-day event,
will take place in Puri, Odisha. This is an annual festival that President
Droupadi Murmu attends, with thousands of believers. Usually held over one
day, the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra will be extended to two days due to certain
celestial arrangements this year. This has only happened once before, in 1971.
Given President Murmu's ties to the Mayurbhanj area, the
recently elected Odisha government has made extra arrangements for her visit to guarantee the festival runs successfully. In honour of the Rath Yatra,
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a two-day public holiday
on July 7 and 8.
The chariots are prepared for transportation to the Gundicha
temple, where they will stay for a week, and are parked in front of the
Jagannath temple's Lion's Gate.
On Sunday afternoon, the chariots will be drawn by devotees.
What makes the Rath Yatra this year unique?
This Sunday, several rites involving the three sibling
deities—Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra—will be carried out
on a single day, breaking with tradition.
This year, July 7 will mark the Rath Yatra as well as
related ceremonies like "Nabajouban Darshan" and "Netra
Utsav." These rites are usually performed in advance of the Rath Yatra.
The term "Nabajouban Darshan" refers to the gods' young aspect. They
are said to stay hidden for 15 days during "Anasara," or quarantine,
after "Snana Purnima."
In "Snana Purnima," the gods are said to become
unwell from overindulging in baths and stay inside. Priests carry out a unique
rite called "Netra Utsav" before "Nabajouban Darshan,"
in which the eyes of the deities are painted anew. The Rath Yatra, or Chariot
Festival, is thought to have existed for at least as long as Puri's Jagannath
Temple. After eight days, the event culminates with the Holy Trinity's return
to the Temple of Goddess Gundicha Devi, their maternal aunt.
Essentially, the celebration begins with Akshaya Tritiya
(April) and ends with the Holy Trinity's arrival back at the Shree Mandir
grounds.
Plans from the Odisha government
The state administration has put plans in place to guarantee
that the yearly celebration runs smoothly and on schedule. All of the
ceremonies are proceeding without a hitch thanks to the cooperation of all
parties involved.
All other ceremonies would be performed on time and with the
blessings of Lord Jagannath, Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain was cited
by PTI as saying.
According to the news agency PTI, Puri Superintendent of
Police (SP) Pinak Mishra stated that 180 platoons of security personnel from
the state and federal governments have been sent in to maintain law and order
and manage crowds during the festival. Each platoon consists of thirty people.
A green tunnel is set up to get sick people from the throng
to the hospital fast. ADG (law and order) Sanjay Kumar claims that artificial
intelligence-based CCTV cameras have been put in Badadanda, the site of the
festival, and other significant spots in the town.
The President's visit to the festival is subject to extra
security. A buffer zone is set aside for the President, and a VIP zone is
intended for the governor of Odisha, the chief minister, Union ministers, and
other dignitaries.
A top SP rank officer-led team has been assembled to
supervise President Murmu's visit to the pilgrim town. With a crowd estimated
between 10 to 15 lakh, the fire service agency has made the required
preparations.
For the Rath Yatra, 46 contemporary fire tenders have been
stationed across the town and along the seashore, according to Sudhanshu
Sarangi, DG of, the fire department. He claimed that water would be sprayed on the
audience to keep them cool in the anticipated hot and muggy conditions.
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