Heavy security in place as devotees throng Puri for final Adapa Mandapa darshan ahead of Bahuda Yatra
Puri, July 23
Devotees gathered at Adapa Mandapa in Puri on Thursday for this year's final darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra ahead of the Bahuda Yatra scheduled for July 24, with Odisha Police putting in place multi-level security arrangements.
Speaking to ANI, Central Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Satyajit Naik said multi-layer security arrangements had been made to ensure the smooth conduct of darshan and crowd regulation.
"Police has ensured multi-layer security arrangements as today is the last darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra at Adapa Mandapa, which is evening darshan. There is a huge crowd of devotees," Naik said.
He said darshan commenced at 6 am and the Sandhya Darshan would conclude at 6 pm, as notified by the temple administration, to facilitate preparations for the Bahuda Yatra.
Naik said security arrangements had been made for both Thursday and the Bahuda Yatra on Friday. He added that zig-zag barricading had been put in place and separate entry and exit gates had been designated for devotees visiting the temple.
The IGP further said that 50 platoons of forces had been deployed for the occasion and that the temple premises had been divided into various sectors, each headed by supervising police officers, to ensure effective crowd management.
Meanwhile, Poda Pitha, a traditional delicacy deeply associated with devotion and motherly love, as part of the rituals associated with the Bahuda Yatra, is offered as bhog to Lord Jagannath when the three chariots pass the Mausi Maa Temple on Bada Danda. The offering is considered a symbol of affection and reverence during the return journey of the deities.
According to the Skanda Purana, during the great deluge at the beginning of creation, Maa Mausi Maa consumed half of the rising waters. As she absorbed the waters of the deluge, she came to be known as Ardhashini.
It is also believed that, by residing on the banks of the Malini River, which once flowed along the Bada Danda, she prevented floodwaters from entering the Kshetra and protected the holy place. This belief is also associated with the meaning of the name Ardhashini.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I visited Puri last year during Bahuda Yatra, and the atmosphere is simply electric! The devotion of people is unmatched. But I wish the administration also focuses on basic facilities like drinking water and toilets for the devotees waiting in long queues. Security is good, but comfort matters too. Still, nothing beats seeing the three chariots on Bada Danda - a true spectacle of faith!
The mythological connection through Skanda Purana is fascinating - how Mausi Maa absorbed the deluge waters to protect the temple. Such rich heritage we have! I only hope the rituals and traditions are preserved properly amidst all the modern security arrangements. Sometimes I feel we rush too much with crowd management and lose the spiritual essence. 🤔
While I appreciate the security measures, I'm wondering about the environmental impact of such huge gatherings. Are we doing enough to manage waste? The temple town already struggles with cleanliness during festivals. Also, Poda Pitha as bhog sounds delicious! Wish I could taste that traditional offering. But more importantly, let's ensure the safety of elderly devotees who come from far away. 🙏
That story about Mausi Maa being Ardhashini and protecting the Kshetra from floods is something I grew up hearing! It's amazing how mythology and geography connect. The Malini River reference makes it even more real. But I do wish the authorities would also educate the crowd about the significance of these rituals instead of just managing them like cattle. Faith without understanding loses its meaning sometimes.
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