Thousands of devotees gathered at Puri’s Shree Gundicha Temple on Friday for the auspicious ‘Sandhya Darshan,’ marking the Navami Tithi and the final day to offer obeisance to the sibling deities—Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath—at their birthplace before the Bahuda Yatra. The Bahuda Yatra, scheduled for Saturday, signifies the deities’ return to their original abode after the nine-day Rath Yatra procession that began on June 27. In light of a tragic stampede near the temple on June 29, which resulted in three deaths and around 50 injuries, security measures were significantly tightened to ensure devotees’ safety during the event.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced that public entry to the temple would be allowed only until 6 PM on Friday, after which the Singhadwar entrance would be closed to facilitate essential rituals and preparations ahead of the Bahuda Yatra. Devotees entered the temple in orderly queues under the supervision of DGP YB Khurania and other senior officials, including ADG Soumendra Priyadarshi and Puri Collector Chanchal Rana, who ensured smooth proceedings and adherence to safety protocols. The chariots were also rotated southward in readiness for the return journey to the 12th-century shrine.
In addition to on-ground arrangements, Puri Police conducted hotel checks across the city to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of visitors. ‘Sandhya Darshan,’ held annually on Asadha Shukla Paksha Navami tithi, is considered one of the most significant days during the Rath Yatra festival, according to Pandit Suryanarayan Rathsharma. The administration’s proactive measures aimed to manage the massive turnout and prevent any untoward incidents during this important religious occasion.
