Conduct Rath Yatra Sans Devotees, Jagannath Temple Committee Tells Odisha Govt

Puri: With the Rath Yatra in Puri less than two days away, the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee on Sunday urged the Odisha government to conduct the Yatra sans devotees.

Briefing mediapersons here, five members of the committee said that the Agyan Mala Bije rituals for the rolling of chariots will be held after the Sakala Dhupa on Monday. As per tradition, the chariots are brought to the Simhadwar of the temple.

But if the government does not allow the chariots to be brought to Simhadwar, Rath Yatra cannot be held as there will be no Agyan Mala rituals.

“Keeping this in view, the state government should take all possible measures to conduct the Yatra for which the Chhattisha Nijog will provide all the support. As there is no alternative to Rath Yatra, we request immediate intervention of the Chief Minister. The state government can hold the Yatra by issuing an ordinance and if necessary, it can move the Supreme Court for modification of its earlier order,” they pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Daitapati Nijog requested the state government to conduct the Rath Yatra in accordance with the tradition of the Jagannath temple.

Nijog secretary Durga Prasd Dasmahapatra requested the government to allow the conduct of the Yatra with strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.

He also made it clear that that the Nijog will dissociate itself from the government if it goes against the tradition of the temple.