More than 500 devotees were reportedly injured, with at least eight in critical condition, during the ceremonial chariot pulling at the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri on Friday, June 27. The injuries occurred when an overwhelming surge of devotees rushed forward to pull the ‘Taladhwaja’ chariot of Lord Balabhadra, one of the three deities of the Jagannath trinity.
The incident unfolded during the grand procession as thousands of pilgrims and worshippers gathered to pull the sacred chariots along the 2.6 km stretch from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, “Due to high humidity, one or two devotees collapsed. Rescue teams acted immediately, and we ensured they received medical attention. I am personally monitoring the availability of glucose, water, and medical facilities. I will also visit the hospital to ensure proper care is provided.”
Despite the incident, the Rath Yatra proceeded with religious fervour and grandeur. The ceremonial chariot pulling began at 4:08 pm with the Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra, followed by Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan and Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh. The air reverberated with chants of ‘Jai Jagannath’ and ‘Hari Bol,’ as devotees pulled the ropes accompanied by traditional music, conch shells, and folk performances.
Earlier in the day, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were brought out of the temple in a grand ‘Pahandi’ procession, accompanied by Odissi dancers and musicians. The rituals culminated in the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ – the symbolic sweeping of the chariots – performed by Puri’s titular king, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and other dignitaries participated in the rituals and joined devotees in pulling the chariots.
Spiritual leader and Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, visited the deities on the chariots along with his disciples, marking another key moment in the day’s rituals.
With nearly a million pilgrims gathered in the temple town, security was significantly heightened. Over 10,000 personnel from Odisha Police, Central Armed Police Forces, and National Security Guard (NSG) were deployed. Anti-drone systems, AI-enabled CCTV surveillance, and canine squads were also in place to ensure safety.
ADGP (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar stated that the heavy security deployment was also in response to intelligence inputs received after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. “Coordination with central agencies, NSG snipers, and Coast Guard support has strengthened our preparedness,” he said.
The Rath Yatra continues to be one of the largest and most revered religious festivals in India, drawing millions of pilgrims and devotees from across the country and beyond. Despite Friday’s unfortunate incident, the spiritual spirit of the festival remained undeterred.
