Puri, June 22: The temple administration, which had earlier decided to stop the practice of installing ladders for the devotees to climb the chariots, today changed its decision and positioned two ladders on each of the three raths for a controlled darshan for the devotees’ convenience.

The temple administration had insisted not to install ladders keeping in mind the last year’s fracas when nearly 10 servitors and some devotees were injured in a lathi charge.

Today, after the three chariots that were stalled midway on Thursday reached the Gundicha temple, people were seen standing in long queues to climb the chariots. Chief administration of the Puri temple Arvind Padhee said the decision was taken after a meeting with the servitors. “We decided to install ladders to the chariots like every year for convenience of the devotees,” said Padhee.

Devotees thronged the raths to have a glimpse of Lord Jagannath and His siblings, who will be taken inside the Gundicha tomorrow evening. Many devotees were spotted rolling in front of the Nandighosh chariot performing which is believed to dissolve all sins.

Police have taken all measures to control the crowd. “We have deployed six platoons of police to manage the crowd. All precautionary measures will be taken to avoid any untoward incident during the darshan,” said Puri superintendent of police Anup Kumar Sahoo.

The devotees, too, welcomed the administration’s decision of installing ladders. “Without the ladders, we face difficulties as climbing through wheels at times result in minor injuries,” said Suryanil Palit, a devotee from Bengal. The two ladders are being installed on each chariot to enter and exit through separate ladders.

With the Lord reaching the Gundicha, the focus shifted to the shrine where the deities will be taken after pahandi bije. Till then, all rituals will be performed on the chariots.

The servitors have also assured the temple administration of smooth darshan for the devotees. “We will ensure that all the rituals are being conducted in time, and at the same time, the devotees will have a safe darshan on the chariots,” said Binayak Dash Mohapatra, assistant secretary of the Daitapati Nijoga.

This year’s rath yatra witnessed a delay in arrival of the chariots to the Gundicha. The rituals such as pahandi bije and chhenra panhra were completed yesterday on time.

While the chariot of Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra were stalled at Badasankha and Balagandi, respectively, pulling of the chariot of Lord Jagannath was stopped after crossing Narendra tank.