More than 600 devotees had to be hospitalized due to injuries and health problems due to huge crowd during the festival festival of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra in Puri, Odisha. Due to this, there was a lot of delay in the Rath Yatra, especially in pulling the taladhwaj chariot of Lord Balabhadra, which spread the chaos. There was a lot of difficulty in pulling the chariot at one turn in the way of the Rath Yatra, due to which the procession slowed down. Due to the stoppage of the chariot, a large number of devotees gathered on the spot.
A large number of people entered the restricted area, causing further obstacles to the smooth movement of the chariots. According to security sources, more crowds gathered than expected, which had a lot of challenges in managing. Due to this disorder, a large number of devotees needed medical help, out of which more than 600 people were treated in Puri Medical College. While pulling the chariot, these incidents took place on the entire Rath Yatra route. It is a matter of honor that the stampede situation did not occur and no one lost his life.
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Reacting to the news of the devotees being unconscious during the Jagannath Rath Yatra, Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that these incidents were probably due to too much heat and humidity. He said, ‘One or two devotees fainted due to weather conditions, but the rescue team immediately responded and rushed them to the hospital. Mukesh Mahaling said that primary health centers have been set up near the temple and assured that water and glucose have been arranged. He said, “I have come here to ensure that adequate medical help is available and I will visit the hospital to examine people needing care.”
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In this chariot festival to be held every year, millions of devotees of Mahaprabhu Jagannath from all over the country reach the pilgrimage city Puri. During this time, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are brought to Gundicha Temple, about 2.5 km from the 12th century Puri Jagannath temple. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra live in Gundicha temple for a week and then return to the womb of Jagannath temple in a similar procession. Gundicha temple is considered to be the home of aunt of Tridevas.
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This is the time of the year when Mahaprabhu himself comes out of his residence (Jagannath Temple) to meet his devotees. At this time, Tithi Nagari Puri is resonant with the slogans of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Ho Bhakte’. After worshiping by Mangal Aarti and Vidhi Vidhan, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra were taken out of the 12th century temple and seated on their chariots Nandi Ghosh, Darpadalan and Taldhwaj standing at the lion gate. Chakraj Sudarshan was first taken out of the main temple while playing bells, conch and cymbals and was enthroned on the ‘Darpadalan’ chariot of Goddess Subhadra. The chakra of Lord Sudarshan Lord Vishnu is the weapon. Mahaprabhu Jagannath, sitting in Puri, is the form of Lord Vishnu.
Behind Shri Sudarshan was Lord Jagannath’s elder brother Bhagwan Balabhadra, who was seated on his ‘Taldhwaj’ chariot. Goddess Subhadra, the sister of Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra, was seated on her ‘Darpadalan’ chariot by the servants in a special procession called ‘Surya Pahandi’ (taking the goddess Akash). This morning, the grand chariots standing outside the lion gate of the Puri temple, after completion of formal Pahandi and Chhera ritual, were brought down from Badadanda (Grand Road) towards Gundicha Temple in the pilgrimage city. The head of the Bhoi dynasty shouted the path of the Rath Yatra with a gold broom. After this, the devotees first started pulling the chariot of Lord Balabhadra. His chariot was stopped for some time. Then the chariot of Goddess Subhadra started pulling. In the last, Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s chariot will be drawn.
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Around 10,000 security personnel have been deployed throughout the city to control the huge crowd and ensure security, including eight companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Odisha DGP YB Khurania said, ‘We have made every possible arrangement for the smooth operation of the Rath Yatra. Rath Yatra is being monitored through more than 275 AI-Ineble CCTV cameras.