The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, known as the Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra, will commence on Sunday, July 7, 2024, marking the auspicious occasion of Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya. Both the central and state governments are working together to ensure the success of this nine-day sacred festival. The Puri district administration and the Sri Mandir managing committee have finalized their preparations. The daitapati servitors are fulfilling their duties with utmost dedication. The three chariots of Lord Jagannath (Nandighosha), Lord Balabhadra (Taladhwaja), and Devi Subhadra (Darpadalana) are ready in front of the Singhadwara. The chariots will begin their journey towards the Gundicha Temple at 5 PM on Sunday. The route, known as Bada Danda, is also prepared.
This year’s Rath Yatra 2024 is unique in several ways. For the first time in 53 years, the Rath Yatra will be held over two days. This means the arrangements and the grandeur of this event will be different from previous years. While those who witnessed the Rath Yatra 53 years ago will recall a different time, this year will see more modern and organized festivities. The 1972 Rath Yatra and the 2024 Rath Yatra will certainly have notable differences.
President to Pull the Chariot Traditionally, the chariots of the Lord were pulled by devotees alone. Over time, servitors and police officers joined in for better management. In recent years, even the Chief Minister participated in pulling the chariots. However, this year will witness a new chapter with the President of India pulling the chariot. The President will be on a four-day visit to Odisha, spending the first two days in Puri for the Rath Yatra and related events.
Chief Minister Leads Cleanliness Drive Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with volunteers, BJP leaders, and workers, participated in a cleanliness drive on Bada Danda as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Chief Minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister Kanakvardhan Singhdeo and Minister Prabhati Parida, led the initiative. Other ministers also joined the cleanliness drive.
Tribal Roots of the Servitors Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that the original servitors of Lord Jagannath are from tribal communities. The rich history and culture of Odisha are preserved with great reverence by countless devotees. As a member of the tribal community and a devoted servitor of Lord Jagannath, Majhi expressed his complete dedication to ensuring the success of the Rath Yatra, following all traditional practices and modern management protocols.
Crowd Management During Rath Yatra The Rath Yatra in Puri sees a massive influx of devotees. From the Sri Mandir to the Gundicha Temple, the streets are thronged with people. Estimating the exact number of participants is challenging, but efforts are being made to manage the crowd effectively. Measures are in place to count the number of visitors coming to Puri through the three main routes (Bhubaneswar-Puri, Konark-Puri, and Brahmagiri-Puri). The number of vehicles such as buses, cars, autos, and bikes will be tracked. Additionally, counts from hotels, lodges, dharmasalas, and mutts will be considered, along with train arrivals.
Experience the grandeur and uniqueness of Rath Yatra 2024, where tradition meets modernity, and witness the sacred journey of Lord Jagannath’s chariots like never before.