The Railway Ministry is setting up a holding area equipped with essential amenities for devotees who will participate in Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday that extensive arrangements have been made for the upcoming Rath Yatra. Earlier, he had also assured devotees from Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand that 315 special trains will run to facilitate their journey to Odisha.
Accommodation and facilities for devotees
The Railway Ministry is building a holding area for 15,000 people that is going to be complete with proper toilet facilities and temporary ticketing centers. Vaishnaw said that the goal is to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for devotees. He emphasized that preparations are in place for an estimated 15 lakh devotees who are expected to arrive from across 25 districts of Odisha.
In addition to the railway preparations, Vaishnaw warmly welcomed President Draupadi Murmu’s visit to Odisha for the occasion. He expressed readiness for the influx of pilgrims and the significance of their journey to witness the revered Rath Yatra.
Snana Purnima Celebrations
Earlier, on June 22, thousands of devotees had gathered at the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri to celebrate ‘Snana Purnima’. This festival includes ceremonial baths of Lord Jagannath and his siblings with sacred water from 108 pitchers at the Snana Mandap. The deities were then adorned in Gajanana Besha, resembling Lord Ganesha, marking a rare public appearance before the grand Rath Yatra procession.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had also participated in the Snana Purnima rituals and paid his respects at the Jagannath Temple, underscoring the cultural and spiritual importance of these traditions in Odisha.