New Delhi: In a pioneering move, students from India’s premier institutions like the IITs, IIMs, and leading public policy and management schools will participate in the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, through an intensive ground-level internship program. This hands-on initiative, announced by officials on Tuesday, will immerse students in one of India’s largest religious gatherings.
Under the “Public Systems and Infrastructure Internship” launched by the Puri district administration, these students will collaborate directly with local officials to help manage crucial aspects of the yatra. Their responsibilities will span crowd control, infrastructure supervision, event logistics, and inter-agency coordination during the festival, which draws millions of devotees each year.
Puri District Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “The Jagannath Yatra is a living example of administrative excellence, devotion, and scale. This internship is an opportunity for young minds to witness and contribute to the nation’s governance at its most dynamic.”
During the 10 to 15-day internship, participants will be assigned to key areas including sanitation systems, emergency response frameworks, service camp operations, and digital citizen engagement strategies. The 2025 Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled to commence on June 27 and will conclude on July 5.
This initiative is expected to give future policymakers and managers a unique exposure to real-world challenges, while also contributing innovative perspectives to the centuries-old festival’s modern-day administration.
