By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: With COVID-19 lockdown continuing, Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb said Rath Yatra can be held if the government ensures that no devotees are allowed into Puri Bada Danda (Grand Road). If this happens, for the first time in the history of Odisha, Snana Jatra (bathing festival) and Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath and His divine siblings will be conducted here in the absence of devotees.
The Puri King, however, said the final decision on this score lies with the state government.The Srimandir Managing Committee, meanwhile, has proposed the state government to conduct the annual chariot festival without allowing devotees on the Grand Road.
The Puri Srimandir will remain out of bounds for devotees in view of the COVID-19 and the SnanaYatra rituals will be held inside temple premises at the Meghanad Pacheri with limited number of servitors, said Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb.
The State l&PR department will make arrangements for live telecast and webcast of Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra rituals. The feed will be shared with media houses, he added.The Puri Gajapati has urged the devotees to stay safe at home and watch the telecast on TV.
The bathing festival of the deities on June 5 will be conducted at Meghanad Pacheri inside the temple as per the rituals but with limited servitors and in presence of limited administrative officials. But, the centuries-old temple will not open for devotees.
Regarding Ratha Jatra, the Gajapati said a proposal has been given to the Government for holding of the nine-day sojourn as per the rituals and without devotees. The festival will be held only if the state Government gives permission for the same. The Government will take steps to ensure that no outside devotee comes to Puri and no local devotee gather on Bada Danda during the entire festival. He further said, “Srimandir will remain closed for devotees till Niladri Bije, even if the Centre eases the lockdown norms and allows religious institutions to resume.”
