Only 10 Servitors To Be Allowed Atop Each Chariot During Rath Yatra; Know The Other Restrictions

Bhubaneswar: Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Krishan Kumar on Monday said that only 10 servitors will be allowed atop each chariot during Rath Yatra on Tuesday.

He said that no more than 500 persons, including sevayats and police personnel, will be allowed to pull each chariot of the sibling deities in accordance with the Supreme Court order.

“The 1500 people to be engaged for pulling of the three chariots have been identified. Almost 75 per cent of the COVID-19 test had been completed. A team from the Health Department is here and they are conducting the tests. The results will be out by tomorrow morning,” Kumar said.

He further said that all arrangements have been made for the live telecast of the entire festival.

As a precautionary measure, all sevayats will wear masks during the festival. “During Pahandi of the Lords, they will be asked to wrap their gamcha around their mouth. We hope to conduct the festival smoothly following all the guidelines,” he said.

The shutdown has been imposed in Puri and public transport barred from entering the town, he said, adding that Rath Yatra will be held amid all these restrictions and sought cooperation from the denizens.