Puri: Jagannath Temple will open its doors at 2 am on January 1, 2026, allowing devotees to seek blessings from Lord Jagannath and his siblings. With a large number of visitors expected to throng the seaside pilgrim town of Puri during the New Year celebrations, the administration has also cancelled the leave of all district officials for six days from Wednesday.
Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Kumar Padhee confirmed the decision. According to Padhee, the Pahili Bhoga ritual timetable has already been finalised. The Ratri Pahuda ritual will take place at 11 pm on December 31, followed by the Dwaraphita ritual at 2 am on January 1. The early opening aims to accommodate the large crowd expected during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Temple authorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and safe experience for devotees. The initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to facilitating hassle-free darshan during peak festive hours.
Puri Collector Dibya Jyoti Parida has ordered the cancellation of leave of all district-level officials from December 30 to January 4 to ensure smooth management of the expected rush of visitors. As per the order, all officials must remain present at their respective headquarters during the period and shall not leave headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority.
The decision was taken in view of the heavy turnout of devotees during the New Year celebrations. Officials have been directed to ensure the safety of devotees and extend proper hospitality to visitors, the Collector said.
Meanwhile, Puri police issued a traffic advisory ahead of Zero Hour celebrations on December 31 and the New Year 2026. To manage the influx of visitors, 60 platoons of police personnel will be deployed across the city. The advisory emphasises smooth traffic flow and effective crowd management to maintain order during the celebrations.
Puri SP Prateek Singh said elaborate arrangements have been made for effective crowd management in the pilgrim town. Police personnel have been deployed in strength to regulate the flow of devotees visiting Shree Jagannatha Temple for offering prayers before the sibling deities.
CCTV cameras and public address systems have been installed at all sheds around the temple, while security checkpoints have been set up for vehicle checking and frisking, while police patrolling across the city has been intensified.
Police officials have also held discussions with hotel owners as part of efforts to ensure peaceful and incident-free New Year celebrations. A parking advisory has been issued to facilitate smooth traffic management.