Preparations Of Annual Rath Yatra In Puri Gain Momentum

Puri: The sibling deities of Jagannath Temple here are recuperating in Anasara Ghar after the luxurious bath and are expected to be fit by July 11, a day before Rath Yatra

With the festival being held without devotees for the second consecutive year in view of the COVID pandemic, the chariots of the triad will be pulled by sevayats and police personnel this year too.

After the preparatory meeting on Thursday, Puri sub-collector Bhabatarana Sahoo said that the Fire department has been asked to spray more jets of cold water. “Some sevayats had burnt their feet while pulling the chariots as low capacity water tanks were used last year,” he said.

Puri Collector Samarth Verma presided over the meeting which was held at the circuit house here.

“All the departments concerned were told to observe the festival with strict adherence to the COVID guidelines. All rituals will be conducted before time. All those engaged in the rituals of the Lords will undergo RT-PCR test,” the sub-collector said.

The meeting also discussed the places that will be sealed to keep devotees at bay. “Section-144 will also be imposed in the town. No one will be allowed to climb onto the dilapidated houses on either side of the Grand Road,” he added.

Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh, Additional District Magistrate (Gen) Pradip Kumar Sahoo, Sub-Collector Bhabatarana Sahoo, and CDMO Dr Sujata Mishra were present.