By Anurjay Dhal
PURI: All roads to Odisha’s pilgrimage city of Puri. Three chariots of the Holy Trinity have kept in front of the Singha Dwara following the Anja Mala (garland of consent) ritual in the afternoon on Monday. Nandighosh chariot of Lord Jagannath was first brought to the Singhadwar followed by Darpa Dalana of Devi Subhadra and Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra.
After the Naba Jauban Darshan of Lord Jagannath and siblings on Monday, process has begun for tomorrow’s world famous Rath Yatra as per schedule. Lord Balabhadra would lead the chariot procession riding Taladhwaja. It will be followed by Devi Subhadra in Darpadalana. Lord Jagannath would go riding Nandighosa in the end.
The Mangala Alati ritual will begin at 6 am in the morning followed by Mailama, Tadaplagi, Abakash. Similarly, Gopal Ballhav and Sakal Dhupa rituals will be performed between 8 am and 9 am.
The Pahandi Bije ritual will begin at 9,30 and will continue till 12.30 pm. The chariot pulling will commence from 4 pm, the SJTA said.
As many as 70 platoons of force have been mobilsed to control crowd and 25 platoons will look after the traffic management. Special choppers of India coast guard are patrolling over the sea. Around 20 lakh devotees are expected to arrive in the pilgrim city to witness the annual spiritual journey of the deities.
The administration has divided the entire city into 14 zones and 29 sectors for proper maintenance of law and order.
Though 9.30 AM has been set for Pahandi Bije, the ritual is likely to start early as all rituals are being conducted ahead of the scheduled time, said Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Ranjan Kumar Das.
Tight security arrangements have been made in and around Puri town for the festival. The pilgrim town has been divided into 14 zones and 29 sectors. For the first time Coast Guard helicopters will patrol the beach and fast patrol vehicles deployed closeby. Interceptor boats will be stationed at Paradip, ready for any contingency, till July 2, said additional DGP, Law and Order, Sanjay Kumar.A total of 125 special trains will ply to Puri during the festival, he said.
Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur said all inter-state tourist buses and local tourist buses will stop and park at Malatipatpur bus stand.
