In a historic first, students from India’s premier institutions — including the IITs, IIMs, and leading policy and management schools — will converge in the sacred city of Puri (Odisha) to join hands with the district administration for the world’s largest annual spiritual gathering, the Jagannath Rath Yatra on June 26-27, 2025.
Under a special Public Systems & Infrastructure Internship initiated by the Puri District Administration, these students will work at ground zero to study critical aspects of the Yatra, including crowd behavior, public infrastructure, event planning, and inter-agency coordination.
Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain (IAS) said “Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is an exercise in scale, devotion, and coordination. It’s time India’s brightest minds saw what nation-building looks like in the field.”
Over a 10–15-day period, selected interns will be assigned live projects around sanitation infrastructure, emergency response systems, seva stall operations, and digital citizen engagement. Their work will culminate in real-time reports and recommendations for future event efficiency, contributing directly to the planning of large-scale public systems.
The program not only allows students to gain unparalleled field experience but also honors the spirit of ‘Seva through System Building’. Applications have already begun pouring in from across India’s top academic institutions.
The internship will be facilitated by Chaaipani, a branding agency appointed exclusively to manage brand activations & brand integration to enhance public facilities at this year’s Jagannath Rath Yatra.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young minds to witness how India runs at its most complex and spiritual intersection. This is a rare opportunity for students to learn how logistics, culture, systems, and human behavior in India operate at unprecedented scale. We’re proud to help build a bridge between India’s brightest students and its most powerful grassroots realities,” said Shruti Chaturvedi, founder of Chaaipani.
This initiative also sets a new benchmark in blending spiritual heritage with future-focused learning, showcasing Odisha’s leadership in civic innovation and cultural stewardship.
