In view of the corona epidemic, this year also more than 500 servants will not be allowed to pull the chariot in the yatra and they will have to show the negative report of the COVID-19 investigation before this.
This year also Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra will be held in Puri without devotees (file photo)
The Odisha High Court on Wednesday dismissed five petitions seeking the removal of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Puri, Kendrapara and Bargarh. The petitioners had sought a direction to the Odisha government to allow the Rath Yatra to be held in Bhatli in Kendrapara district as well as in Bargarh. It was also said in the petition that only servicemen would be involved in this Rath Yatra and COVID-19 rules would be followed.
The High Court refused to interfere in the Rath Yatra event, citing the instructions of the government. The Odisha government had announced this month that the annual Rath Yatra scheduled for July 12 in the state would be held only in Puri amid strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol. This year also devotees will not be allowed to take part in it.
The Supreme Court, while allowing the Rath Yatra last year amid the Corona epidemic, said that there would be no participation of the common people and all entry points of Puri would remain closed. Also, more than 500 servants will not be allowed to pull the chariot during this period and they will have to show the negative report of the COVID-19 investigation before this.
Tomorrow will be the event of Devsnan Purnima
‘Devsnan Purnima’ will be celebrated on Thursday before the Rath Yatra. The Puri Police has made elaborate arrangements to organize it without the presence of devotees. This festival is celebrated before the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. Police said it would impose restrictions on the June 24 event to prevent any overcrowding.
On the day of Rath Yatra, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra will be pulled to the Gundicha temple, which is about three kilometers from the main temple. The Rath Yatra will start at 8.30 am on July 12 and the process of pulling the chariots will start at 4 pm. After this, the three deities will be brought back to the main temple on 23 July.
For the Rath Yatra, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided that all those, including the servants, will have to undergo RT-PCR test who will take part in the religious rituals related to the Rath Yatra. This can also include people who have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only servants and officials related to the temple administration will participate in the Rath Yatra.
(with PTI input)
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