Bhubaneswar, 06 July (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday chaired a special review meeting on the preparations for the annual Rath Yatra, stressing the need for seamless coordination among government departments, officials, employees and servitors to ensure the smooth and incident-free conduct of the world-famous festival.

Addressing the meeting at the Puri Town Hall, the Chief Minister said that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, all stakeholders must work with dedication, commitment and a spirit of service by combining their knowledge, experience and expertise. He said such collective efforts would help ensure a flawless and well-organised Rath Yatra.

Describing Lord Jagannath as the presiding deity of millions of devotees across Odisha, India and the world, Majhi said the Rath Yatra is one of the most sacred festivals and attracts global attention every year. He emphasized that ensuring a safe and successful festival is not merely an administrative responsibility but also a moral duty of everyone associated with its management.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that all officials would discharge their responsibilities with sincerity, treating their duties as a service to Lord Jagannath. He said elaborate arrangements have been made for security and crowd management, with extensive deployment of police personnel. Comprehensive preparations have also been made for healthcare, sanitation, drinking water supply, transportation and traffic management.

Advising officials to draw upon the experience gained over the past two years, Majhi stressed the importance of inter-departmental coordination and continuous monitoring of all arrangements. He also appreciated the servitors for conducting the temple rituals and traditional ceremonies in a timely manner.

The Chief Minister directed officials to make extensive use of print and electronic media, public announcement systems, FM radio, social media platforms and departmental websites to keep devotees informed about rituals, darshan schedules, traffic advisories and other important updates. He said timely dissemination of accurate information would help avoid inconvenience to pilgrims and minimise confusion. He also instructed authorities to maintain strict vigilance against rumour mongers and take firm action against those spreading misinformation.

Majhi further said that if every stakeholder performs his or her duties with devotion and respect for Lord Jagannath, the Rath Yatra will be conducted successfully. He expressed hope that devotees would return home with a safe and spiritually fulfilling experience, describing it as the true measure of the administration's success.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister released the booklet titled Ruparekha – Rath Yatra 2026, published by the Puri district administration.

Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, senior ministers, the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and other senior officials attended the meeting. The Chief Secretary presented an overview of the overall preparations, while the Director General of Police briefed the meeting on the security arrangements for the festival.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda