By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: As for general public entry, the main entrance , Lion’s Gate was opened while for Puri locals, entry allowed in Western gate but everything was normal in the morning but later in the day , devotees in large number thronged the pilgrim town Puri to have holy darshan of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir on the auspicious occasion of Dola Purnima on Friday.
Dola Purnima is one of the occasions when Lord Jagannath and His Holy siblings Lord Balabhdara and Goddess Subhadra adorned with gold jewelries and precious stones.
A stampede-like situation occurred after the devotees reportedly broke a barricade in front of the Singhadwara (main entrance) to enter into the Jagannath Temple to witness Suna Besha of deities on Ratna Bedi.
Eyewitness said, devotees standing in queues for long hours amid heatwave conditions were desperate to move into the temple. Few devotees tried to enter into the temple forcibly despite opposition from servitors and security personnel.
According to reports, two women devotees fell down in the crowd. With help of servitors and security personnel, they managed to get up without sustaining injuries.
