Puri: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday stressed the need for close coordination among government departments, officials, employees and servitors to ensure the smooth and error-free conduct of this year's Ratha Jatra in Puri.

Chairing a special review meeting at the Puri Town Hall, the Chief Minister said all stakeholders should work with dedication, combining their knowledge, experience and skills while seeking the blessings of Lord Jagannath. He said a spirit of service and teamwork is essential for the successful management of the world-famous festival.

Describing Lord Jagannath as the presiding deity in the hearts of millions, Majhi said the Ratha Jatra is not only the most sacred festival for devotees in Puri and Odisha but also for devotees across the country and around the world. As the festival attracts global attention, he said ensuring a safe and well-organised Ratha Jatra is not merely an administrative responsibility but a moral duty for everyone involved.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that officials and employees would discharge their responsibilities with sincerity, treating their duties as a service to Lord Jagannath.

Majhi said elaborate security and crowd management arrangements have been made, with extensive police deployment across Puri. He added that comprehensive arrangements for healthcare, sanitation, drinking water, transportation and traffic management are also in place.

He also emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring of all arrangements and appreciated the servitors for conducting temple rituals with discipline and punctuality.

The Chief Minister directed officials to make extensive use of mass media, public announcement systems and social media to spread public awareness. He said regular updates on rituals, traffic movement and other important information should be disseminated through FM radio, social media platforms, departmental websites and television channels to help devotees avoid inconvenience.

Majhi also instructed officials to maintain strict vigil against rumour-mongers and take firm action against those attempting to spread misinformation.

The Chief Minister said that if everyone performs their assigned responsibilities with devotion and respect for Lord Jagannath, the Ratha Jatra can be conducted smoothly. He added that the true success of the administration would be ensuring that every devotee returns home after having a safe and spiritually fulfilling darshan of the deities.