With the new year approaching, a large number of devotees are thronging the Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri in Odisha for darshan of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. The crowd is expected to peak on 31st of this month, the last day of this year, and also on 1st of next month, the first day of new year 2026. To manage the rush, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has introduced a one-way darshan system. Barricades have been put in place from the temple premises to Bagala Dharamshala.

Devotees are entering through ‘Singha Dwara’ and exiting through the other three gates. Security arrangements have been intensified from the temple area to the sea beach. 25 police platoons have already been deployed, while up to 60 platoons will be mobilised during the peak period. Police and temple officials are monitoring the situation to ensure smooth movement and the safety of devotees.