Puri Rath Yatra with out devotees this 12 months too 

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings scheduled on July 12 will likely be held with out participation of devotees this 12 months too because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Like final 12 months, Rath Yatra will likely be held at Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri solely because the state authorities prohibited it in some other temple of the State.

Announcing the choice on Thursday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena mentioned that the Supreme Court’s pointers on conducting the annual competition of Lord Jagannath will likely be adopted. Restrictions imposed over the past 12 months’s Rath Yatra will stay in power this 12 months, he mentioned, including solely sevayats having RT-PCR destructive report inside 48 hours and people who are absolutely vaccinated will participate within the proceedings together with observance of all rituals.

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Pulling of chariots can even be finished by absolutely vaccinated or RT-PCR destructive report holding sevayats by observing all Covid-19 protocols, he mentioned, including, no more than 500 sevayats can take part in pulling of a chariot. He mentioned that the sevayats can even have to stick to Covid acceptable behaviour so far as potential throughout such rituals as Pahandi of the deities.

The SRC mentioned that in the course of the Rath Yatra curfew will likely be clamped in Puri and all entry factors to the city will likely be sealed. He mentioned that stay telecast feed of the competition will likely be offered to media retailers by the Information and Public Relations division.

He mentioned that different temples within the state can solely observe the rituals within the temple premises with none celebrations.

The Supreme Court had on June 22 final 12 months modified its June 18 order staying the Rath Yatra and permitted the automotive competition to be held with sure situations that included no public participation and imposition of curfew within the metropolis because of the Covid-19 pandemic.