Thousands Visit Shree Gundicha Temple Amid Safety Measures

Puri, Odisha, June 30 (PTI) – Thousands of devotees flocked to Shree Gundicha temple in Puri on Monday, eager to have a darshan of the sibling deities – Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. This mass gathering followed a tragic stampede the previous day that resulted in three deaths and left 50 others injured. To manage the crowds effectively, authorities erected barricades at the temple entrance, creating defined queues for a smoother darshan experience at the 'Adapa Mandap,' where the deities are seated, as confirmed by a senior police officer.

The temple office announced that on Monday night, there would be no 'Pahuda' – the traditional closing of the temple doors for the deities to rest – due to ongoing rituals after the deities entered Shree Gundicha temple. Mangal Aarti was performed at 7:40 am on Tuesday, attracting thousands who were able to witness the ritual without issues, said a temple official. During this time, the deities will be offered cooked 'Adapa Mandap Prasad' after about 20 days.

IPS officer Soumendra Priyadarshi, an ADG-rank official appointed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the stampede, assured that the situation is under control, with devotees accessing the temple smoothly. Devotees believe that having a darshan of Lord Jagannath atop the 'Adapa Mandap' purifies them of their sins.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) informed that the temple doors will be closed from 9 pm to 2 am for the 'Banakalagi' ritual, also known as 'Srimukha Singhar Niti.' This ritual involves the facial decoration of the deities using natural colors and cleaning of the deities.

The stampede occurred around 4:20 am on Sunday during a Rath Yatra ceremony, with thousands gathered near the chariots in front of the temple. In response, Chief Minister Majhi issued an apology to devotees and initiated significant administrative changes to restore public confidence and secure the smooth continuation of rituals such as 'Adapa Bije,' 'Bahuda,' and 'Suna Besha.'

Newly appointed Puri District Collector Chanchal Rana and Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra have assumed their duties, actively monitoring the festival's arrangements, which commenced on June 27 and will conclude on July 8. The deities will remain at Shree Gundicha Temple until July 5, when they will embark on their return journey, known as Bahuda Yatra, to the Shree Jagannath Temple.

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