🙏 When Faith Meets Failure
The Puri Stampede and the Urgent Need to Rethink Crowd Management at Religious Gatherings The tragic stampede at Puri’s Rath Yatra has once again exposed the cracks in how large religious events are managed in India. This blog questions the cost of devotion when systems fail. In the early hours of June 29, 2025, what should have been a sacred celebration turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak. At least three devotees lost their lives and nearly 50 others were injured in a stampede near the Gundicha Temple in Puri , Odisha, during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra —one of India’s most revered religious festivals. The cause? A deadly mix of poor crowd control , VIP access mismanagement , and administrative negligence . And while the Odisha government has responded with suspensions, transfers, and apologies, the question remains: Why does this keep happening? 🛑 A Pattern We Refuse to Break This isn’t the first time a religious gathering has turned tragic in India. From the Kumbh Mel...