Odisha Govt Charts Roadmap for Orderly Lingaraj Jagar Utsav

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has drawn up a detailed roadmap to ensure the smooth conduct of the Lingaraj Jagar Utsav scheduled for February 15, 2026.

A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhawan reviewed preparations for the annual festival, which draws thousands of devotees to the historic Lingaraj Temple.

Officials emphasised disciplined rituals, timely puja, and orderly darshan for devotees. Crowd management emerged as a key priority, with measures planned to prevent congestion and maintain safety.

The roadmap also includes health and safety provisions such as fire services, ventilation, and oxygen supply.

Coordination with temple servitors and committees (niyogs) will be strengthened to ensure rituals are completed on time. Information about the schedule will be disseminated widely through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Senior officers with prior experience in festival management will be assigned additional responsibilities.

The meeting was attended by Law Department Principal Secretary Dr Pabitra Mohan Samal, Police Commissioner S. Dev Dutta Singh, Endowment Commissioner Lalatendu Jena, and other senior officials.

The overarching goal is to preserve the sanctity of temple traditions while prioritising devotee safety and convenience during the grand celebration.