Preparatory Review Held for Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri; Senior Officials Assess Ground Readiness

Puri: A high-level pre-Car Festival preparatory meeting, followed by a comprehensive on-site review, was conducted to finalise a coordinated roadmap for the smooth conduct of Rath Yatra 2026.

The review meeting was held in Puri and was followed by a joint field inspection at the Shri Gundicha Temple, a key venue associated with the annual Rath Yatra festivities. The exercise brought together senior officials from the district and police administration, along with representatives of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the temple management committee, and senior sevayats.

Senior officials present included ADG (Modernisation) Soumendra Priyadarshi, IPS, IGP (Central Range) Dr. Satyajit Naik, IPS, District Collector and Magistrate Dibyajyoti Parida, IAS, and Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, IPS.

During the meeting and field visit, officials reviewed preparedness measures and discussed detailed coordination mechanisms required for the successful execution of the festival. Key focus areas included crowd management planning, security arrangements, infrastructure readiness, and inter-departmental coordination to ensure smooth movement of devotees and pilgrims.

Authorities emphasised the importance of integrated planning among all stakeholders to maintain safety, efficiency, and discipline during the mega religious event, which attracts large gatherings from across the country and abroad.

The review is part of the early preparatory framework being developed to ensure seamless execution of Rath Yatra 2026 in Puri.