THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
JANUARY 13, 2026
With an
uncompromising focus on precision and accountability, Odisha Chief Secretary
Anu Garg on Tuesday directed senior officials of all concerned departments to
ensure a completely error-free Rath Yatra this year, stressing that even the
smallest lapse would be unacceptable during the sacred festival.
Chairing the
first preparatory meeting for the annual Rath Yatra, scheduled to be held on
July 16, the Chief Secretary urged officials to draw lessons from last year’s
experience, plan well in advance and work in close coordination to deliver a
smooth, well-managed and safe festival for lakhs of devotees. She underlined
that the Rath Yatra is not merely an event but a matter of faith that demands
the highest level of administrative discipline and inter-departmental synergy.
During the
meeting, Garg reviewed the entire spectrum of rituals and activities associated
with the festival, beginning with the collection of sacred wood for the
chariots, their construction, and the pulling of the chariots. She emphasized
that meticulous planning and strict adherence to timelines are essential,
especially as the festival attracts massive crowds from across the country and
abroad.
Highlighting
that the Rath Yatra is still six months away, the Chief Secretary issued
detailed instructions to ensure that all preparatory tasks are completed within
the stipulated timeframe. She said early planning would be crucial to avoid
last-minute rush and confusion, and to ensure seamless execution of rituals and
logistics.
Officials held
extensive discussions on key arrangements, including the collection of wood
logs for chariot construction, deployment of additional police and security
personnel, traffic management, installation of more LED display systems,
round-the-clock water supply, parking facilities and other crowd-control measures.
Maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of pilgrims remained at the
core of the deliberations.
The heightened
focus on flawless execution comes in the backdrop of last year’s tragic
incidents, when the Rath Yatra was marred by serious lapses and mismanagement.
A stampede near the Gundicha Temple on June 29, 2025, had claimed the lives of
three pilgrims, sending shockwaves across the state and drawing widespread
criticism.
Following the
incident, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had publicly apologized to the
devotees of Lord Jagannath and ordered a thorough probe into the security
failures. The Odisha government had subsequently removed Puri District
Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain and Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal
from their posts, while two senior police officers — DCP Vishnu Pati and
Commandant Ajay Padhee — were suspended for dereliction of duty. An ex-gratia
of Rs 25 lakh each was also announced for the families of the deceased
pilgrims.
Determined to
prevent a repeat of such incidents, the state administration has now set its
sights firmly on conducting a dignified, disciplined and incident-free Rath
Yatra, with the Chief Secretary making it clear that zero lapses will be the
only acceptable standard.
