Bhubaneswar: In a major safety initiative, the complete bursting of firecrackers has been banned at Narendra Pushkarini during the upcoming Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which is set to begin on Monday, (Akshaya Tritiya).
A day after the yatra commences, the holy Chandana Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath and his siblings will take place with traditional rituals, including the application of sandalwood paste. The Puri police have implemented extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the 21-day festival.
The entire Narendra Pushkarini area will remain under strict security with full CCTV coverage and enhanced surveillance. Additional measures include anti-sabotage checks and adequate lighting. When the palanquin of Mahaprabhu leaves the Shree Jagannath Temple (Shrimandir) and proceeds to Narendra Pushkarini, multi-layered security will be in place.
An Additional SP, 5 DSPs, 8 inspectors, 20 ASIs and five platoons of police force have been deployed for security duty. Plainclothes personnel will also be deployed among the devotees to prevent any untoward incidents. The fire department will station rescue boats in the Narendra pond for emergency response.
This decision comes in the wake of the tragic firecracker explosion at Narendra Pushkarini on Shrikshetra Bhanuri Day in 2024, which claimed 17 lives. Police have imposed a total ban on crackers this year to avoid any repeat of such a tragedy. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the ban.
Puri SP stated that all rituals and activities will be carried out in close consultation with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), as per tradition. The focus remains on the safety of devotees while preserving the sanctity of the sacred festival.
