By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPARA: Kendrapara BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty has written a letter to SRC PK Jena urging him to take steps for Rath Yatra of Lord Baladevjew Temple online of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri.
The BJD MP also assured SRC for all cooperation to hold Rath Yatra at Tulsi Khetra amid COVID-19 restrictions. “As you know, Puri Shree Mandir and Kendrapara Baladevjew Temple has age old connection and online of Puri Rath Yatra, steps should be taken to host Rath Yatra in Kendrapara,” the letter said dated June 15. The MP Mohanty also assured that he will extend all support and cooperation to hold Rath Yatra amid COVID-19 restrictions.
It may be noted here that last year, the Ratha Yatra was organized inside the Baladevjew temple premises. No chariot pulling was held. The district administration had promulgated Section 144 CrPC outside the temple premises, Ratha danda and Mausima temple during Shree Gundicha and Bahuda Yatra to restrict the congregation of devotees.
Earlier, the servitors and devotees of Lord Baladevjew had expressed displeasure at the State Government’s decision not to hold Rath Yatra anywhere in the State except Puri.If Lord of the Universe Jagannath’s Car festival is allowed at Puri without devotees amid the ongoing pandemic, then why the State Government has not been allowing the Car festival here at the Baladevjew temple, they had asked. They urged the State Government to let the Rath Yatra be organized at Tulasi Khetra follow issuing SoP and prohibiting the devotees’ participation.
They had said that the State Government should give green signal to organise the Baladevjew’s Rath Yatra in Kendrapada with limited participation of servitors.The Government has decided that only servitors having RT-PCR negative report within 48 hours and those who are fully vaccinated will take part in the proceeding including observance of all rituals at Puri. Here too, the same can apply, demanded the servitors of the Baladevjew temple.
