By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: With various calendars suggest Ratha Jatra will fall on July 16, the final dates for the nine-day festival, including Bahuda Jatra and Suna Besha, will be confirmed according to the traditional rituals of the temple in consultation with the Chhatisa Nijog, Mukti Mandap, and other temple committees, Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level meeting today at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall to discuss early preparations for the upcoming 2026 Ratha Jatra.
The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including Director General of Police Shri Y.B. Khurania, Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, and Additional Chief Secretary of Home, Industry, and Information and Public Relations Shri Hemant Sharma.
Additional Chief Secretary and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Administrator Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee also participated along with Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Shrimati Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary Works, shri Sanjay Singh, Principal Secretary Finance, Shri Sanjeeb Mishra, Secretary Health & FW, Shrimati Aswathy S as well as senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India and the Puri District Administration.
SJTA Chief Dr. Padhee shared the schedule for preliminary rituals, noting that the consecration of chariot timber (Ratha Katha Pujana) will take place on Basanta Panchami, January 23, followed by timber sawing starting on Shriram Navami, March 27, and the commencement of chariot construction on Akshaya Tritiya, April 20. The Snana Jatra is scheduled for June 29.
