Puri: With the New Year just around the corner, pilgrim city Puri is bustling with religious fervor and devotion. Lakhs of people from across the country are thronging to Puri to have darshan of Lord Jagannath and welcome the New Year 2024. This year, the District Administration is expecting more than five lakh people to arrive in Puri on the eve of the New Year. In view of this, the administration has made foolproof arrangements with basic facilities and security.
The new Air Conditioned shed put up on the Badadanda from Marischikot Square to Singha Dwara will help pilgrims for a hassle free entry into the temple. The AC Shed has all the amnities for the devotees such as drinking water, seating arrangements, and toilets. Arrangements have also been made for volunteers who will help old age and differently abled people to have easy darshan of the deities.
Meanwhile, the Jagannath Temple Administration has come up with some restrictions that will be effective from the New Year. Indecent clothing and attire will be restricted inside the temple from the New Year. While male devotes are required to wear decent traditional attire, pants and shirts, female devotees to wear sarees and salwar suits. People have been requested to wear traditional clothing while entering into the temple. The administration will take strict action against use of tobacco, pan, gutkha and polythene inside the temple.
Keeping in view the huge rush, the Puri Police has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth darshan by devotees. According to sources, about 90 platoons of Police Force will be deployed on the New Year day. Also, traffic restrictions will be put in place for movement of vehicles. Among others, 20 DSPs, 50 inspectors and more than 140 Asst Sub Inspectors will be there on the ground for security arrangements.