Bhubaneswar/ Puri, December 31: On the eve of the New Year, thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad flocked to the coastal city of Puri in Odisha to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath temple. The devotees believe that starting the year with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—brings prosperity and happiness for the year ahead.
Anticipating many devotees at the temple, the district administration and temple authorities have made elaborate arrangements to manage the crowd and ensure a smooth darshan experience for the devotees.
Vinit Agrawal, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Puri district, visited the temple on Tuesday to review the crowd management measures. "Given the expected rush, we have put in place strict security measures and crowd control systems. Devotees are entering the temple through the four gates, and a block-wise system is in place to ensure an organized flow," Agrawal said.
He also informed that barricades have been erected from Market Square to the temple to streamline the movement of the crowd. Ambulance services have been stationed on-site to address any emergencies, and CCTV surveillance is also in place at key locations across the city for security measures. "We welcome all devotees to join us for the New Year celebrations," he added.
In preparation for both the New Year and Zero Night celebrations, the Odisha Police have also heightened security across the state, particularly in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Commissionerate Police has deployed three additional Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), five Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), 24 inspectors, 88 sub-inspectors (SIs), and 36 sections of the force to ensure a peaceful and safe environment during the festivities.
Police officials have also been stationed at key locations across the cities to oversee the New Year's Day celebrations and prevent any untoward incidents.
