Puri, Oct 20: On the sacred occasion of Diwali Amavasya, thousands of devotees gathered near the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri to perform the traditional rituals of Badabadua Daka and Payashraddha, honouring their ancestors with deep reverence and spiritual fervour. The temple city witnessed a massive influx of pilgrims, turning Grand Road (Bada Danda) into a vibrant corridor of devotion.

The rituals began with darshan of Lord Jagannath, followed by the lighting of Kaunria (jute) sticks near Srimandir. Devotees believe that during Pitru Paksha, ancestral spirits descend to the mortal world, and on Diwali Amavasya, they are guided back through the light of these sacred flames. The Payashraddha ceremony involves offering rice pudding and prayers to departed souls, seeking peace and liberation for them.

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To facilitate the rituals, the temple administration designated four official sites near Emar Math for lighting Kaunria sticks. The spiritual atmosphere was complemented by tight security arrangements, with 28 platoons of police deployed to ensure orderly conduct and safety.

Puri SP Prateek Singh confirmed that special arrangements were made for both today and tomorrow, as the state government declared a two-day Diwali holiday. Traffic restrictions were enforced from 4 AM to 10 PM, and a strict No-Vehicle Zone was established from Market Square to the Lion’s Gate of Srimandir in the city.