Bhubaneswar: Undeterred by the death of two devotees following a crowd rush during Rath Yatra in Puri on Thursday, a sea of humanity thronged the Grand Road again on Friday, pulling the majestic chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra to Gundicha Temple.The rituals had run late on Thursday, forcing the suspension of the chariot‑pulling in the evening. But the procession resumed the next morning with renewed fervour, and no untoward incident was reported. “With the divine blessings of Mahaprabhu, all three sacred chariots safely reached Saradha Bali (Gundicha Temple) by 2.45 pm. Around five lakh devotees turned up to pull the chariots, with the ritual starting around 9.40 am. The ceremony went off smoothly,” DGP Y B Khurania said.Despite the sombre backdrop over Thursday’s tragedy, devotees expressed unshaken faith. “Jagannath is our protector. Even in the rain and rush, I felt safe pulling the ropes. It is His will that we are here,” said Premananda Prakash Das, a pilgrim from Cuttack.“We heard about Thursday’s tragedy, but we could not stay back. This is the only time in the year when we touch the ropes of the Lord’s chariot. It is a blessing worth every risk,” said 45‑year‑old devotee Sushila Mishra, who travelled from Rourkela with her family.As the chariots rolled into the Gundicha Temple, chants of “Jai Jagannath” drowned out lingering fears, reaffirming the centuries‑old devotion that continues to draw lakhs to Puri every year.The idols remained atop the chariots on Friday and will be transferred inside the Gundicha temple (Adapa Mandap) on Saturday evening.Massive security arrangements were in place, with police mindful of past tragedies. Three devotees were killed in a stampede outside Gundicha temple on June 29, 2025, the third day of Rath Yatra. “We have not left any stone unturned,” Khurania said, urging elderly, children and ailing devotees to avoid the crowd.He cautioned that police may face challenges when devotees refuse to vacate the space after darshan. ‘Unless devotee circulation happens, it may lead to stampede‑like situations. Devotees should offer their prayers with reverence and make space for others to do the same,” the DGP said.
