Indus Valley Times

One devotee killed, some others injured in stampede

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar : Lakhs of devotees, including President Droupadi Murmu, on Sunday thronged Odisha’s pilgrim city Puri and witnessed the captivating Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. The entire three-km Bada Danda (Grand Road) between Srimandir and Srigundicha temple turned into a sea of human beings, throwing a serious crowd management challenge to the state administration.

Odisha governor Raghubar Das, chief minister Naveen Patnaik, former CM Naveen Patnaik and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among the important dignitaries who were also present at Puri to see the annual divine journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra to enable common people to have their darshan on the chariots.

As per the schedule, the three deities were brought in from Srimandir in a grand Pahandi (procession) by the temple priests and mounted on separate chariots.

After all the rituals, including the spectacular Chhera Panhara or cleaning of the chariots by Gajapati King Dibyasingha Deb, was performed, – the devotees pulled the chariots in the evening.

A perfect weather provided the pilgrims an ideal condition to stand for ours — from morning till evening — to see the chariots roll on the Grand Road amidst chanting of ‘Jai Jagannath’ slogans, chanting of mantras and playing of musical instruments.

In the evening, a freak incident occurred as a devotee died after suffering injuries due a minor stampede in front of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot. The identity of the victim was not known till this report was filed.

Before offering prayers to Lord Jagannath, CM Mohan Charan Majhi and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Sankaracharya Swami Nishalananda Saraswati and took his blessings.

“This year’s Rath Yatra is unique and rare as it is being celebrated celebrated for two days (July 7-8) simultaneously with two other major rituals — Naba Youvan and Netra Utsav. I pray Lord Jagannath to shower His blessings on all the countrymen,” CM said.

The CM thanked all the stakeholders, including servitors, Puri district administration and the local public, — for smooth and hassle-free conduct of the Rath Yatra festival.

Director General (DG), fire service, Sudhanshu Sarangi told PTI that elaborate arrangements have been made by the fire service department for the nine-day festival.

The majestic Rath Yatra is the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from Srimandir to Srigundicha temple. The three-kilometre journey of the deities is also called Ghosha Yatra. The journey offers people of all sections and faiths to see the deities on the chariots. It is believed that a darshan of the deities on the chariots absolves devotees of their sins and helps them attain Moksha or salvation.

The return journey of the deities to Srimandir after their nine-day sojourn is celebrated as Bahuda Yatra. The deities reach their own temple attired in new costumes and this new form of the idols is known as ‘Suna Vesa.’

The chariots used during Rath Yatra are built every year with newly cut trees. Carpenters begin the construction of chariots on the Akshaya Tritiya day. The chariots are painted with bright colors and the tops are covered with red, black, yellow, or green canopies. Lord Jagannath uses red and yellow, Lord Balaram uses red and green, while Goddess Subhadra uses red and black. All the chariots have separate features to distinguish from each other.