Ratha Yatra to be Celebrated Only in Puri, Without Devotees

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT - 14.6 2021

As speculated, the Covid pandemic will rob the sheen of Rath Yatra for the second consecutive year, with the state government on Thursday announcing 2020-like restrictions, involving a ban on congregation of devotees at Puri. Like last year, Rath Yatra will not be celebrated elsewhere in the state, the government said. The nine-day Rath Yatra is scheduled to be observed on July 12.

"In view of the Covid second wave, the government has decided to host Rath Yatra only in Puri in compliance with the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court last year. Rath Yatra will not be allowed in other places. Only Rath-related rituals can be performed inside the temples in other places without the participation of devotees. Unlike Puri, chariots will not be allowed to roll at other places," special relief commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena said.

According to the SRC's order, only a limited number of servitors and duty-bound police, temple and government officials will be allowed to conduct the Rath Yatra in Puri after they furnish their RT-PCR negative reports or full vaccination certificates. Like last year, the chariots will be pulled by the servitors, police personnel or the government employees on Rath duty. Each of the three chariots will be pulled by around 500 persons, who should be fully vaccinated or should have tested negative to Covid-19 48 hours before the Rath Yatra.

"No devotees shall be allowed to participate during Rath Yatra or the associated rituals on Debasnan Purnima, Bahuda Yatra, Suna Besha and Niladri Bije days. Like last year, curfew will be imposed in Puri town on such days to prevent the congregation of devotees," Jena said.

During Rath Yatra, the government has decided to seal the entry points in Puri town. The bus stand, railway station, rivers and sea route in Puri would be closed. Trains, buses and private vehicles will not be allowed to enter Puri during the festival," the order said.

The fate of last year's Rath Yatra had followed week-long speculations and moments of intense anxiety among devotees amid the pandemic. The Supreme Court, which had on June 18 last year, ordered the cancellation of the Rath Yatra in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, had modified its earlier order a day before the Rath Yatra on June 23 and granted permission to hold the annual festival without the congregation of devotees.

The Supreme Court's June 18 order had sparked statewide public outcry and political slugfest with many hitting out at the state government for having failed to convince the SC to hold the Rath without the devotees. The state government had to change its stand under duress and had then assured to plead with the Supreme Court to not stop the age-old tradition.