1 Dead, 8 Hospitalised Due To Suffocation Amid Stampede-Like Situation During Jagannath Rath Yatra In Puri

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra: The Rath Yatra in Puri commenced with lakhs of devotees pulling chariots. One devotee died and eight others fell ill due to suffocation.

Devotees carry an idol of Lord Jagannath during the annual 'Rath Yatra', in Puri, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Source: PTI)

Source : PTI

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra: Lakhs of devotees pulled the colossal chariots from the 12th-century Jagannath temple in Puri towards the Gundicha temple, approximately 2.5 km away, as the Rath Yatra festivities commenced in Odisha on Sunday. However, the celebrations were overshadowed by the tragic death of a devotee and eight others falling ill due to suffocation while pulling the chariots in the evening, officials reported, as per news agency PTI. Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling personally monitored the situation in Puri. In a stampede-like situation while pulling Lord Balabhadra's chariot, several people, including a policeman, sustained injuries and were subsequently hospitalised.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his condolences and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, identified as Lalit Bagarti from Balangir district. He instructed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured devotees. "With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, all the rituals were completed on time. A large number of devotees have reached the town to witness the festival and the weather conditions have also remained favourable," said Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, as quoted by PTI's report.

Odisha TV's report cited sources as indicating that over 300 individuals were taken to the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, with around 50 persons released after receiving primary treatment.

2-Day Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra In Puri

The Rath Yatra commenced around 5.20 pm after Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, accompanied by his disciples, visited the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. Following this, the Puri's titular king completed the 'Chhera Pahanra' (chariot sweeping) ritual. 

President Droupadi Murmu performed a 'parikrama' of the three chariots and paid her respects to the deities. The president, Governor Raghubar Das, the Chief Minister, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan symbolically initiated the 'yatra' by pulling the ropes of Nandighosh, the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also had a 'darshan' of the sibling deities. The 'yatra' moved only a few metres before stopping, set to resume on Monday morning in a departure from tradition.

The festival this year is a two-day event, marking the first time in 53 years that the Rath Yatra extends over two days. 

The deities ascended their respective chariots following the completion of the three-hour-long 'Pahandi' ritual at 2.15 pm. The atmosphere was filled with 'Jai Jagannath' chants, the sounds of gongs, conches, and cymbals at the Singha Dwar of the Puri temple. Lord Sudarshan was first escorted to Darpadalan, the chariot of Devi Subhadra. Following this, Lord Balabhadra was taken to his Taladhwaja chariot, and Goddess Subhadra was brought to her Darpadalan chariot in a special procession by servitors.

Finally, Lord Jagannath was ceremoniously taken to his chariot amid the sounds of gongs. In the 'Pahandi' ritual, the deities are brought from the temple to the chariots, descending from the 'Ratna Sinhasana', the bejewelled throne, down the 22 steps known as 'Baisi Pahacha' through the Singha Dwar.

Several rituals, including 'Mangla Arati' and 'Mailam', were held before the presiding deities set out from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. An estimated million devotees converged in Puri for the annual festival. While most devotees hailed from Odisha and neighbouring states, many international visitors also joined in one of the world's largest religious processions, officials noted.

Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, a senior servitor of the temple, remarked, "With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, with a committed mindset, we completed the 22-hour-long rituals in eight hours, allowing the Pahandi ritual to finish two hours ahead of schedule", as quoted by PTI. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator V. Yadav stated, "All happens as per the wishes of Lord Jagannath."

In a post on X, President Murmu described her experience at Rath Yatra as "deeply divine." She wrote, "I too participated in this centuries-old, spiritually elevating event and felt one with the mass of devotees that thronged this holy place. For me, it was one of those blessed moments that make us aware of the presence of the Supreme Being. May there be peace and prosperity around the world by the grace of Mahaprabhu Jagannath!"

Jai Jagannath! It was a deeply divine experience to witness the pulling of the three chariots of Bhagwan Balabhadra, Mata Subhadra and Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannathji by thousands of devotees during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri today. I too participated in this centuries… pic.twitter.com/AmceqXokbM

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 7, 2024

This year's Rath Yatra is celebrated over two days, with some rituals, including 'Nabajouban Darshan' and 'Netra Utsav', being conducted on Sunday, deviating from the tradition of holding these rituals before the Rath Yatra. Tight security measures were implemented, with 180 platoons of security personnel deployed, according to Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra. Artificial intelligence-based CCTV cameras were installed at Badadanda, the venue of the festival, and other strategic locations in the pilgrim town, added ADG (law and order) Sanjay Kumar, as per PTI.