Bhubaneswar: In view of the second wave of COVID-19, the Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraj in the Odisha capital will be held on Ashokastami (April 20) sans devotees.
Briefing the media after a meeting with the sevayats of the four Nijogs presided over by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary at the BDA office, BMC additional commissioner Laxmikant Sethi said a blueprint has been prepared considering their demands to conduct the event without the devotees.
“The state government will take a final call on this matter,” he added.
Sethi further said that the Palia sevayats, who will pull the chariot, have to undergo COVID-19 test before the yatra.
He said that the Biswakarma sevayats have already started the construction of chariot at Mahakhala. “The wheels will be ready today, the chariot will be constructed ahead of the schedule,” he added.
