Bhubaneswar: In a bid to prevent accidents, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has prohibited the bursting of firecrackers during the upcoming Chandan Jatra of Lord Jagannath. This decision was made in a meeting with the Chhatisa Nijoga, following last year’s tragic incident where a devotee was killed and 23 others sustained serious burn injuries due to a cracker explosion.
To ensure safety, the temple administration has decided to provide insurance coverage to servitors and other stakeholders involved in the festival. Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chief Administrator of SJTA said, “We will provide insurance coverage to servitors and other stakeholders during Chandan Jatra. Only rituals will be performed, and no firecrackers will be allowed.”
The temple administration has also made arrangements for temporary first aid centres at the fair venue, staffed by doctors, fire services personnel, and police. This is part of their efforts to prevent a repeat of last year’s incident.
Last year, the Chandan Jatra festivities turned tragic when a firecracker explosion occurred on the banks of Narendra Pushkarinee, resulting in one death and 23 injuries. The SJTA is taking all necessary precautions to ensure a safe and incident-free celebration this year.
