Bhubaneswar: Odisha police successfully managed an unprecedented crowd of nearly 16 lakh during the Suna Besha ritual in Puri on Saturday — almost double the turnout recorded at this year’s Rath Yatra on July 16, director general of police (DGP) Y B Khurania said on Sunday.“The Suna Besha ritual has traditionally drawn larger crowds than Rath Yatra. This year, however, the turnout was about two lakh higher than last year’s Suna Besha and nearly double that of this year’s Rath Yatra. By Lord Jagannath’s blessings and through teamwork, the crowd was managed smoothly,” DGP Khurania said.On the auspicious occasion, the deities were adorned with gold ornaments while seated on their grand chariots.
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Darshan began around 5 pm on Saturday and continued till 1.55 am Sunday.The surge of devotees triggered unprecedented vehicular pressure, stretching Puri’s infrastructure to its limits. Police sources said while the city had designated 30 parking lots with a maximum capacity of 8,500 four‑wheelers, 30,000 two‑wheelers and 800 buses, the actual influx exceeded 20,000 four‑wheelers. Long queues clogged NH‑316 between Bhubaneswar and Puri, with waiting times ranging from one to three hours. For many, the 60‑km journey took between four and six hours — that normally takes 90 minutes.ADG Amitabh Thakur and DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, who oversaw traffic, said police personnel shared real‑time updates through LED screens, social media and bulk SMS. “Our personnel worked tirelessly to streamline traffic,” Singh said.Devotees, meanwhile, urged the govt to strengthen parking and traffic infrastructure to cope with rising vehicular flow during major festivals. “The govt should make Puri future‑ready. Since Suna Besha draws more devotees than Rath Yatra, long‑term solutions are essential,” said devotee Sudeep Kumar Mohanty, who took four hours to reach Puri from Bhubaneswar on Saturday night.Debasis Das, convener of a Puri‑based cultural outfit, said the number of four‑wheelers has risen sharply. “Many who earlier travelled by train or bus now drive their own cars. Parking facilities have improved in recent years but need further expansion,” said Das from Srikhetra Swabhiman Mancha.Hoteliers echoed the demand, linking infrastructure to economic growth. “Puri’s economic potential is tied to its ability to handle large festival crowds. Modern facilities will benefit pilgrims and boost tourism and commerce,” said Debasis Kumar, vice‑president of the Hotel Association of Puri.
