Instead, voluntary organisations and donors will be allowed to serve only dry food items to the millions of devotees expected during the grand festival.

Officials say the decision aims to uphold strict sanitation and public health standards as the holy town braces for one of the largest gatherings of the year. The directive was confirmed during an inspection by Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee, who reviewed final civic preparations on the ground.

To ensure smooth arrangements, the administration is setting up information boards guiding devotees to authorised food kiosks, clean drinking water points, and emergency medical facilities.

Municipal teams have completed desilting drains, while 24 parking zones have been mapped to manage the massive influx of vehicles.

Acknowledging the risk of monsoon rains, authorities have identified 30 flooding-prone zones and deployed high-capacity pump sets to prevent waterlogging. The overarching goal, officials stressed, is to guarantee a safe, secure, and seamless darshan for devotees, tourists, and dignitaries.