By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: “ସୁନାବେଶରେ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଶୋଭା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମନୋରମ। ଶ୍ରୀଜିଉଙ୍କୁ ଏ ବେଶରେ ଦେଖି ଅଗଣିତ ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟ ଆଜି ଉଲ୍ଲସିତ। ଏପରି ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଆୟୋଜନ ତାଙ୍କ ଇଚ୍ଛା ବିନା ସମ୍ଭବ ହୋଇନଥାନ୍ତା। ସେ ଲୀଳାମୟ, ସବୁ ତାଙ୍କରି ଇଚ୍ଛା। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ,” Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had twitted.
With Adharapana rituals going on Friday followed by Niladri Bije that will mark the end of 9-days long Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Odisha’s pilgrimage city of Puri, it seems, a religiously poignant surrender by Odisha Chief Minister Patnaik, 5T Secretary VK Pandian and SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Kishan Kumar before the Almighty, resulted, this year’s Rath Yatra a Grand Success.
The Odisha Government’s stand before the Supreme Court had received widespread criticism. There was resentment all around. Devotees, sevayats (priests), the Shankaracharya, the Gajapati Maharaj all reproved the Government but things took u-turn after NaPa-VKP-KK made emotional prayers to Lord Jagannath.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and 5T Secretary VK Pandian worked round the clock while SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Kishan Kumar implemented it in ground with Rath Yatra turning out to a grand success.
The world famous Rath Jatra on 23 June and the Bahuda Jatra on 1 July were held without presence of devotees as the Supreme Court of India had on 22 June allowed the annual festival, only in Puri, and on condition that a limited number of servitors will participate and there would be no congregation.
Due to Lord Jagannath Grace, Rath Jatra, Bahuda Jatra and Suna Vesha rituals were completed smoothly, thanks to servitors’ cooperation and SJTA’s handling of Jatra in a befitting manner.
During entire Rath Jatra, all the Servitors worked very hard with all sincerity and even pulled the Chariots in absence of devotees.The official said like Suna Besha, Adharapana performed with strict maintenance of social distancing for coronavirus pandemic.
The SJTA and the District Administration have made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra, while police personnel in strength were deployed and barricades erected at several places to prevent people from proceeding to the Grand Avenue during the event.
