Bhubaneswar: With Rai Damodar Brata, also known as Kartika Brata, beginning today, the Puri district administration has made elaborate arrangements to accommodate Habisyalis who have thronged to the Holy City in large numbers to observe the 32-day fast in Puri.
The Brata, which started on Tuesday, will continue until November 5. The government has deployed a large number of police personnel to ensure the safety and security of the Habisyalis and other devotees during the month-long Brata observance.
The state government has made arrangements for the Habisyalis at various centers in Puri including Brundabati Niwas, Bagala Dharmasala, Puri Municipality Kalyan Mandap, and the Railway Tourist Complex. These centers are offering comfortable accommodation and other essential services to Habisyalis. So far, 1,950 Habisyalis have registered and are residing in these centers.
That apart, the state government has also made arrangements for the safety and security of the devotees, with 22 platoons of police force, four Additional Superintendents of Police (ASP), 15 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), 15 inspectors, 65 Sub-Inspectors (SIs), and 100 constables deployed.
Meanwhile, Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida has inspected the centers and ensured that all necessary arrangements are in place. The Srimandir administration has also made special arrangements for the devotees, including separate barricades and special facilities for bathing in the temple’s sacred ponds.
The state government has provided various facilities for the registered Habisyalis, including free accommodation, Darshan of Lord Jagannath, Mahaprasad, and cultural programmes.
