Kolkata: On the auspicious occasion of the sacred and historic ‘Puri Rath Yatra 2026’ of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, a massive and amazing crowd of Sanatani faith has also gathered in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. To ensure the smooth conduct of more than 80 small and big processions, including the most grand and historic Rath Yatra organized by ISKCON Kolkata, the Kolkata Police has tightly cordoned off the entire city with an impenetrable security shield. To maintain peace and law and order, more than 2,000 heavy-duty police personnel have been deployed on the streets , while strict aerial surveillance is being carried out from the sky through high-tech drones for crowd management and tracking suspicious activities .
According to official inputs from Kolkata’s Lalbazar Police Headquarters, a “zero tolerance” policy has been adopted this time to ensure no laxity in security arrangements. The main Rath Yatra route, which begins at the ISKCON Temple and includes Albert Road, A.J.C. Bose Road, Sarat Bose Road, and Hazra Road, has been heavily guarded by Quick Response Team (QRT) and Heavy Radio Flying Squad (HRFS) vehicles. The police administration has also rigorously re-checked CCTV cameras in sensitive areas and key intersections to ensure transparent monitoring of every activity from the control room, preventing any anti-social syndicate from raising its head.
This grand outpouring of faith on the streets of Kolkata and the administration’s strict vigilance is a powerful slap in the face of those leftist toolkit syndicates and fundamentalist forces who are always on the lookout to spread false propaganda and create unrest during the peaceful celebration of Sanatan festivals in Bengal. The security forces, working on the vision of “Nation First,” have made it clear that they will not allow their bench strength to weaken in protecting the devotees. This time, the government has also provided substantial financial support to various Rath Yatra committees. Amidst these strict and transparent arrangements, Kolkata is fully immersed in the ocean of devotion today, with the chanting of “Hare Krishna” and the blowing of conch shells.