Puri witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees on Thursday as lakhs of pilgrims converged on the holy town to welcome the New Year 2026 with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. The spiritual fervour was evident from the early morning hours, with devotees lining up well before dawn to take part in the sacred rituals.
The Shree Jagannath Temple opened its doors for devotees at 2 a.m., allowing early darshan to accommodate the massive influx. Entry into the temple was regulated exclusively through the Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate), while darshan was conducted from the Bahara Katha to ensure smooth movement of devotees.
To manage the unprecedented footfall, the district administration implemented extensive arrangements along the Bada Danda. Temporary counters were set up for mobile phones and footwear to streamline movement and prevent congestion around the temple premises.
Elaborate security measures were enforced across Puri to ensure the safety of pilgrims and maintain order. Surveillance was intensified from Atharanala to the sea beach, with police personnel deployed at all strategic locations. Around 70 platoons of security forces were stationed across the city to manage crowd flow and maintain law and order.
Confirming the arrangements, Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said that elaborate preparations had been made to facilitate a smooth darshan for devotees. “All necessary arrangements have been put in place. CCTV cameras and public address systems have been installed to guide devotees, and additional manpower has been deployed to manage the heavy rush,” he said.
He added that more than three lakh devotees were expected to visit the temple throughout the day, marking one of the largest New Year gatherings in recent years.
