By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/ PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Acting on a plea of a NGO, Odisha Vikas Parishad , which had pointed out the public health risk involved if the Annual Sojourn of Trinity is allowed to take place, he Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Annual Rath Jatra In Holy City of Puri in Odisha.
“In the interest of public health and safety of citizens, we restrain the state from holding the Rath Jatra and associated activities. We direct that there shall be no Rath Jatra and associated activities this year”, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Shard Arvind Bobde ordered.“Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow it”, CJI said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the Apex Court not to impose a blanket ban and instead allow some leeway by permitting rituals without gathering of public.
The Apex Court has also stayed all associated activities at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri in the wake of the Novel Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19). The Annual Rath Jatra was scheduled to be held on 23 June and accordingly Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has made all preparations.
The Car Festival involves pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra as they move out out of the temple in this Annual Event. The pulling of chariots involves close contact between the people, which violates the social distancing norms.
At least 12 temples in Balasore district, six in Mayurbhanj, five in Sambalpur, two each in Kandhamal, Bolangir and Gajapati had earlier announced not to hold the Rath Jatra outside the temple premises.
“In wake of the pandemic situation, it has been decided to conduct all the Rath Jatra rituals including the Lord’s return car festival, inside the temple premises going by the Government guidelines,” a statement issued by the Managing Committee of Shri Haribaladev Jew Temple, Baripada said in a statement.
All the temples, including the Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, are closed across the state for devotees since 22 March in view of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Devotees were hoping that Rath Jatra will be organized on 23 June, however with Apex Court Verdict, their hopes are shattered.
A representative team of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Hindu Jagaran Sammukhya (HJS) on Wednesday met Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal and sought his intervention for a positive decision on the issue of Puri Rath Yatra.
“People should not be kept in dark vis-à-vis observance the world famous Rath Yatra. As Covid infection is on the rise, Jagadguru Shankaracharya should be consulted for this year’s Rath Yatra. It is a matter of sentiment for crores of devotees. Thus, a positive decision should be taken at the earliest,” urged the team.
VHP Prant Sanghatan minister Anandji Pandey, department secretary Umashankar Acharya and Hindu Jagaran Samukhya Pranta chairman Ajit Kumar Patnaik submitted the memorandum.
