NE NEWS SERVICE
PURI (Odisha), JUNE 23
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra began in the morning today in Puri after the Supreme Court granted permission to hold the annual chariot festival this year.
Courtesy: Doordharshan
The idol of Lord Balabhadra has been brought to the chariot by priests and ‘sevayats’ for the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Apex Court has permitted the state to hold the festival with restrictions in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. As per the order, it has allowed only 500 people to pull the chariots.
Police sources said that an Additional Director General of Police is supervising the entire arrangements for the yatra. The pulling of every chariot is being supervised by a dedicated senior officer.
“We have done good arrangement for Rath Yatra after Supreme Court has found a midway to perform the Yatra here where the devotees can attend it from their houses, over the televisions and their smartphone. It is the safest way to be a part of the Rath Yatra from a remote area,” said a police officer. Performing artists, priests were also seen participating in the Rath Yatra.
A performing artist who was present ahead of the Rath Yatra said, “Lord Jagannath likes to watch dance and I’m here to do the same and offer my prayers.”
“We have come for the darshan of Lord Jagannath. I believe that now the corona will go away,” a priest participating in the yatra said.
The district administration has also ensured following of all health guidelines in the wake of COVID-19. “We will be ensuring that the participants are wearing masks and are following social distancing norms,” said Balwant Singh, District Magistrate of Puri.
In his twitter handle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wish everyone on the ocassion of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra, he wrote, “My heartiest greetings to all of you on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with reverence and devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to her Twitter handle to share good wishes on the occasion of the Rath Yatra festival, writing, “Greetings to all my brothers and sisters on the occasion of the #RathYatra Festival. May the blessings of Lord Jagannath be showered on all, specially during this disturbing time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jai Jagannath.”
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended wishes, he tweeted, “I extend my warm greetings to all, on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. May Maha Prabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good heath, joy and prosperity. Jai Jagannath!”
The Supreme Court on Monday modified its earlier order and allowed the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri to be held with the coordination of the Temple committee, State and Central government without compromising with the health issue pertaining to COVID-19.
The Apex Court had earlier stayed the annual Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is slated to be held on June 23, and all activities related to the gathering in view of the coronavirus pandemic this year.
A priest at the Jagannath temple has tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday ahead of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri, and reports state that he will not be allowed to participate in the festiva and it was confirmed by the Odisha Law Minister Pratap Jena.
“All the rituals are smoothly running on time after the Apex Court gave permission to hold the annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra festival without devotees,” the minister added.
History of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra
The festival commemorates Jagannath’s annual visit to Gundicha Temple with a halt at Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt’s home) near Saradha Bali, Puri. As part of Ratha Yatra, the deities Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Devi Subhadra, along with Sudarshan, are taken out in a procession out of the main shrine of Jagannath Temple and placed in the Ratha (Chariot) which are ready in front of the Temple. The chariots, which are wheeled wooden structures, are built anew each year using a particular type of tree. The chariot for Lord Jagannath is approximately 45 feet high and 35 feet square, takes about two months to construct and has 16 wheels. Other than that, the chariots of all three are decorated in bright red, yellow and green and have four carved wooden horses each.
