Lakhs of Devotees Witness Lord Jagannath’s Tribikram Vesha on Second Day

Lakhs of devotees, particularly elderly women observing the Kartik Brata, witnessed the Tribikram Vesha of Lord Jagannath at the Jagannath Temple today, the second

day of holy Panchuka.

The last five days of Kartik brata are considered especially sacred, drawing massive crowds to the temple.

Many devotees spent Sunday night chanting holy hymns and singing devotional songs in the sprawling parikrama corridor.

Early Monday morning, they lined up to enter the temple to witness the Laxminarayan Vesha of the deity. The crowd was so intense late Sunday night that it nearly caused a stampede, but timely police intervention prevented any mishap.

The temple administration made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the darshan of the deities. Anticipating large crowds, the Pahuda (sleeping hours of the deities) was temporarily suspended.

The usual one-kilometer barricade was extended by 500 meters, from Municipal Market Square to Bagala Dharamshala, with sunshades provided along the line. Volunteers distributed water to devotees waiting for long hours.

Devotees were advised to enter through the Simhadwar (main gate) and exit through the three other gates.

Over 2,500 elderly women observing the month-long brata at government expense were escorted for darshan by the administration.

During the Panchuka, the last five days of Kartik, the deities are dressed in five different Veshas daily, with Sunavesha (Rajrajeswar Vesha) on Kartik Purnima, the concluding day of the brata.

Streams of devotees entered through Simhadwar, passed through barricades, and exited via the other gates after darshan.

Odisha DGP Y.B. Khurania, Superintendent of Police Pratik Singh, temple chief administrator Arabind Padhee, and District Magistrate Dibyajyoti Parida were present on the first day of Panchuka.

On the second day, Additional DGP Soumendra Priyadarshi and other senior officials oversaw arrangements. Several platoons of police, totaling over 200 officers, were deployed for crowd management.

Hundreds of lifeguards were stationed along the beach to ensure safe bathing, and power boats patrolled the coast for rescue operations.

This year, the Panchuka ritual has been reduced to four days.

With a massive turnout expected for the Rajrajeswar Vesha on Kartik Purnima, the administration plans to deploy additional police personnel. No incidents have been reported so far.

In the evening, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida visited Brundabati Nivas, the main center for Habisyalis.

She interacted with the inmates, distributed special packets or kits, and sought the blessings of the elderly mothers for the state’s well-being.

Parida also expressed gratitude to the volunteers and staff who served over 2,500 devotees observing the month-long Kartik Brata at five government accommodations.