PRIYABRAT BISWAL

PURI, JULY 16, 2026

Amid incessant rain and chants of "Jai Jagannath", an ocean of devotees gathered along the 2.6-km Grand Road in Puri on Thursday to witness the sacred Pahandi Bije, the ceremonial procession marking the beginning of the world-renowned Rath Yatra.

From the early hours, thousands of pilgrims patiently lined the ceremonial route despite heavy showers, eagerly awaiting the divine moment when the sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra — were ceremoniously escorted out of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple. The deities were carried in the traditional Pahandi procession and enthroned on their majestic wooden chariots, signifying the commencement of their annual journey to the Shree Gundicha Temple, revered as their birthplace.

The Pahandi ritual was performed, filling the temple town with deep spiritual devotion and centuries-old traditions. Following this, the Chhera Pahanra ritual was observed, during which Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performed the symbolic act of sweeping the chariots with a golden broom, reaffirming the timeless message of humility and equality before the Divine.

Before the chariots began their onward journey, Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati paid the customary visit, adding further sanctity to one of the world's largest and most celebrated spiritual gatherings. The towering chariot Taladhwaj of Lord Balabhadra was set in motion at 5 p.m. followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan, drawing lakhs of devotees into an atmosphere of unmatched faith and celebration.

With a massive influx of pilgrims anticipated, authorities implemented an extensive security and crowd-management plan across the coastal town. Nearly 13,000 personnel, including Odisha Police, central armed forces, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard, were deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. Surveillance systems, traffic regulation, emergency response mechanisms and crowd-control measures were significantly reinforced to facilitate the safe movement of devotees.

Despite 143.8 mm of rainfall recorded in Puri on the eve of the festival and forecasts of continued rain and thunderstorms by the India Meteorological Department, the administration remained on high alert. Pumps and drainage systems were deployed along the Grand Road to prevent waterlogging and ensure the uninterrupted movement of the ceremonial chariots.

However, amid the spiritual celebrations, tragedy struck when a temporary crowd surge occurred during the Pahandi ritual. According to sources, two devotees lost their lives while several others fell ill during the incident. The injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment.