By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration on Saturday issued a detailed SOP for the annual Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. The SOP was issued following a virtual meeting of Chattisa Nijog and Srimandir management committee under the chairmanship of SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Krishan Kumar.
“Today an important meeting of Chhattisa Nijog held for Annual Rath Yatra-2021 and it was unanimously decided that like in last year, only Sevayats will pull the Chariots. Even no officials barring Sevayats , will be allowed to touch the Chariots,” SJTA Chief Administrator Dr Kumar said after the meeting. As per the State Government’s guidelines, Rath Yatra will be held, he added. Only specific security personnel will be deployed for the said purpose and everyone will be undergo COVID-19 test.
6000 Lt Sanitizers , which was ordered from Excise Commissioner office, will be also available for the Sevayats and security personnel deployed for Rath Yatra. All medical First Aid and dozen over Medical ambulances will be deployed. No extra activities by Sevayats will be allowed during Rath Yatra and restrictions will be issued for use of camera phone. As per Chhttisa Nijog and SJTA jointly agreed for a small gathering during Rath Yatra, Dr Kumar informed.
After observing that some sevaks or servitors took selfie with the deities on the chariots during Ratha Jatra, a unanimous decision was taken in today’s nijog meeting to prohibit mobile phones with camera during the festival starting from July 12.“As devotees will pay obeisance to the Holy Trinity in the TV telecast, no one will be allowed to obstruct the view of the deities,” said Dr Kumar.
Besides, prohibitory orders under Section-144 will be imposed in Bada Danda to maintain law and order. The entire pilgrim town will be divided into 12 zones (Bada Danda into four zones).
Even residents of houses and buildings alongside Bada Danda (Grand Road) will not be allowed to watch the car festival of Lord Jagannath from their terrace.
People will be not allowed to witness the festival from terrace and balcony of 41 lodges and dharmasalas and around 230 houses located alongside Bada Danda as it comes under the purview of curfew restrictions. All lodges and Dharmasalas will be vacated from July 10, said Collector Samarth Varma.
