Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Thursday allowed the nine-day Saradiya Rath Yatra of Goddess Biraja in Jajpur district to be conducted adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.
This year, the Rath Yatra is scheduled to be held from October 17 to 25.
Hearing 4 cases including two PILs filed by Mukti Mandapa Sevayat Parishad of Maa Biraja Temple and Jajpur district lawyers’ association, the High Court asked Jajpur district administration to take a decision in this regard at the earliest.
The two petitioners had sought the High Court’s direction for allowing the annual Rath Yatra which was banned by state government this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
They told the court that the deity of the temple is the only Goddess in the country to have chariot festival which is held during Dussehra.
The government in its reply had stated that the court may pass appropriate order as deem fit, keeping the right to religion and public health in view.
Earlier, the Rath Yatra of Jagannath temple in Puri was organised following Supreme Court’s permission.
