Central Range Police Ensures Safe and Peaceful Shrabana Mela.

Cuttack/Jajpur,24/08(PPT): The Central Range Police successfully concluded the Shrabana Mela with elaborate security and crowd-management arrangements across several districts of Odisha, ensuring safe, smooth and peaceful darshan for thousands of devotees on the final Monday of the holy month of Shrabana.

Special arrangements were made in view of the large congregation of Kaudia devotees on August 24, with particular focus on the historic Dhabaleswar Temple at Gurudijhatia in Cuttack district. More than 20,000 devotees, including women, children and elderly persons, visited the temple on the day.
“Safety of devotees is our highest priority; their faith and dignity are our collective responsibility,” said Dr Satyajit Nayak, IG, Central Range.

The police made extensive arrangements covering temple approach roads, entry and exit points, bridge and river-crossing areas, parking zones and congregation points. Six platoons of police personnel, along with officers of various ranks, were deployed at Dhabaleswar Temple.
Special crowd-management teams were positioned to regulate the movement of devotees and prevent overcrowding. Separate arrangements were also made for women, elderly persons, children and Divyangjan devotees. Traffic and parking systems were strengthened to ensure smooth movement, including access for emergency vehicles.
Quick Response Teams and reserve forces were kept ready, while river and water-safety measures were enhanced at locations where devotees came into contact with the river. Fire and emergency response arrangements were also coordinated with the concerned agencies. Public Address Systems were used for regular safety, queue, traffic and parking announcements.
Police maintained close surveillance over vulnerable and high-footfall areas and kept a watch on anti-social elements, pickpockets and miscreants. Personnel were also sensitised to ensure courteous and devotee-friendly behaviour.

Senior officers, including the IG, Central Range, SP, SDPO, Chowdwar and IIC, Gurudijhatia Police Station, continuously supervised the arrangements on the ground.
The security arrangements extended beyond Cuttack to other districts under the Central Range. In Puri district, special deployment was made at Shree Loknath Dev Temple, Jodalinga Shiv Temple and Balikapileswar Temple, besides security arrangements near the Bhargavi River and NH routes.
In Nayagarh, large gatherings were expected at Ladukeswar Temple in Saranakul and Dutikeswar Temple in Odagaon, with arrangements also covering 12 other Shiva temples. Jagatsinghpur deployed police personnel at Shiva temples under several police stations, with additional arrangements at Gorekhnath Temple in Tirtol.

In Jajpur, seven sections of police were deployed at Shiva temples under Badachana, Dharmasala, Kuakhia, Jajpur Town, Binjharpur and Panikoili police station areas. Khordha police stations were alerted regarding the movement of Kaudias, while Kendrapara police made special arrangements for devotees travelling through Rajkanika towards Aradi Shiva Temple in Bhadrak, including safe passage by boats.

During the Shrabana period, thousands of Kaudia devotees undertake journeys carrying holy water from rivers such as the Mahanadi, Prachi and Bhargavi to various Shiva temples. This year, the four Mondays of Shrabana fell on August 3, 10, 17 and 24.
The Central Range Police appealed to devotees to maintain discipline, follow designated queues and routes, cooperate with police and temple authorities, avoid rushing or pushing, and follow traffic and safety instructions. Devotees were also advised to take special care of children and elderly family members, avoid carrying unnecessary valuables and immediately report any suspicious activity or emergency to the nearest police personnel.With coordinated deployment, traffic regulation, crowd-control measures and continuous supervision, the Central Range Police said its objective was to ensure that the Shrabana Mela remained safe, peaceful, orderly and devotee-friendly, while giving the religious sentiments and dignity of devotees the highest priority.