Puri: A crowd surge led to a stampede-like situation at Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri on Tuesday during the celebrations of Dola Purnima, one of the major festivals at the shrine coinciding this year with a lunar eclipse.

According to sources, the chaos occurred near Dolabedi as thousands of devotees gathered to witness the ceremonial Parikrama (circumambulation) of the deities’ processional idols (Chalanti Pratima) through the Paschima Dwara (western gate). The unprecedented rush led to pushing and shoving among pilgrims eager for a glimpse of the deities during the rituals. The surge caused three women devotees to fall, resulting in minor injuries. Police personnel on duty quickly intervened, helping those affected and restoring order within minutes.

Speaking to the media, Puri SP Prateek Singh the Parikrama was proceeding smoothly with adequate forces, including 10 platoons deployed for crowd management, but some devotees attempted to bypass security barriers as the deities entered the Dolabedi. “Pushing ensued as police attempted to stop them and a woman tripped over her own clothing, triggering a brief chaos. The situation was brought under control promptly,” Singh stated, adding that darshan processes have since been streamlined to prevent further issues.

Dol Purnima is a major 5-day spring festival marking the full moon in Phalgun, where deities Shree Dola Govinda, Bhudevi, and Sreedevi are placed on a decorated swing (Dol) and offered Abir (red powder) and Phagu, which is then smeared on devotees. The idols are carried from the temple to the Dolabedi for special rituals in a colorful palanquin (Bimana).

The SP added that devotees often try to sneak in when the gate is opened to carry the Bimana.