Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday, 6 July chaired a high-level review meeting at Puri Town Hall to assess preparations for the annual Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath, stressing that the festival's safe and flawless conduct is a collective moral responsibility — not merely a government obligation. The meeting, held in the coastal temple town of Puri, brought together officials and staff from all concerned departments.

Key Directives from the Chief Minister

Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi called on all departments, servitors, and administrative staff to pool their wisdom and experience in a spirit of dedicated service. 'With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, and by bringing together our wisdom, knowledge, skills and experience with a spirit of dedication, the officials and employees of all the concerned departments, as well as the servitors, should manage the Ratha Yatra. This collective effort will ensure that the Ratha Yatra is conducted in a flawless manner,' he said.

Majhi also instructed the district administration to strictly adhere to the prescribed limit on cordon passes and not issue any beyond the approved number — a measure aimed at preventing overcrowding and maintaining crowd flow.

Security and Civic Arrangements

The Chief Minister confirmed that extensive police deployment has been made for security and crowd management. Alongside law enforcement, adequate provisions have been put in place for healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, transportation, and traffic regulation across the festival zone. Majhi advised officials to draw on experience from the past two years to ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination this time.

Information Outreach and Misinformation Control

Majhi directed authorities to leverage FM radio, social media, departmental websites, public announcement systems, and television to keep devotees informed about temple rituals, traffic conditions, and emergency updates in real time. He also ordered a strict watch on rumour-mongers, warning that firm action would be taken against anyone found spreading misinformation during the festival period.

Significance of the Festival

The Chief Minister underscored that Ratha Yatra is among the most sacred occasions not only for the people of Puri but for devotees across Odisha, India, and the world. 'The whole world's eyes are on this festival. Ensuring a safe Ratha Yatra is not merely a duty of the government, but it is a moral responsibility we all share,' Majhi stated. He expressed hope that every devotee would return from the festival with a fulfilling spiritual experience, describing that outcome as the administration's collective success. Notably, he also commended the servitors of Lord Jagannath for performing all prescribed rituals punctually and in accordance with tradition. With the review complete, the administration is now in a final push to operationalise all arrangements ahead of one of India's largest religious gatherings.