Devotee dies of suffocation, several injured in stampede-like situation during Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.

Several other devotees were injured because of the stampede-like situation on the grand road. The injured were rushed to the Puri district headquarters hospital, which state health minister Mukesh Mahaling visited to take stock of the situation.

“We are trying to ascertain the identity of the deceased. I have personally monitored the health infrastructure and directed the hospital authorities to be ready to ensure proper healthcare to the injured,” Mahaling told reporters.

As part of the Rath Yatra (Gundicha Yatra), the idols are placed on three huge decorated chariots following the Pahandi ritual (ceremonial procession).

Millions of devotees pull the chariots for around 3 kilometres on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) of Puri town. The idols are taken to the Gundicha Temple, considered the deities’ birthplace, where they stay till the Bahuda Yatra (returning car festival).

Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, traditionally leads the Rath Yatra while those of sibling deities – Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra – follow.

Before the chariots are pulled on the Rath Yatra, the scion of the erstwhile Puri royal family, who call themselves the first servitor of the Lords, performs a special ritual called “Chhera Panhara”, as part of which he sweeps the floor of the chariots with a golden broom. The ritual is said to stress the dignity of labour, to show that no task is low or high in the eyes of the lord.

The three chariots will be pulled on Monday again as the Gundicha yatra this year is a two-day affair after a gap of 53 years.