Odisha: Puri temple servitors, opposition parties for quick decision on Rath Yatra

BHUBANESWAR: A day after the Orissa high court left it to the state government to take a call on the fate of Rath Yatra in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic, the servitors and opposition political parties on Wednesday mounted pressure on the government to clear its stand on the annual festival at the earliest. Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 23, is less than two weeks away.
Servitors, who have been demanding celebration of Rath Yatra without participation of devotees, asked the government to finalize the itinerary of the rituals as soon as possible. “We have only 12 days left for Rath Yatra. But people in the state and outside are still in dark about the fate of the annual festival. Chariot construction work is nearing completion. The government should immediately clear all confusions to avoid chaos and resentment at the last moment,” temple Daitapati Nijog’s spokesperson Ganapati Dasmohapatra told media persons at Puri.
Earlier, the Nijog urged the state government to host Rath Yatra without the participation of devotees in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. “We also proposed the government to allow pulling of chariots by police personnel and servitors. All rituals of Rath Yatra should be observed inside the temple and outside on chariots by servitors amid precautions,” Dasmohapatra said. Following the Covid-19 scare, the temple administration observed Debasnan Purnima festival on June 5 by banning the presence of devotees for the first time.
Notably, the state government’s ban on any form of congregation for “religious purpose” outside till June 30 and strict adherence of social distancing norms may cast shadow on this year’s Rath Yatra, especially the chariot pulling exercise. Servitors in large numbers are required to carry the giant idols of the gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from the temple onto the chariots in Pahandi procession. A posse of policemen too are required to pull the chariots. Both the rituals are difficult to ensure social distancing.
“If government apprehends possible Covid-19 explosion due to Pahandi procession and chariot pulling, then the crowded vegetable, fish and grocery shops pose equal threats. Risk has further increased after restoration of train, bus and flight operations. On similar context, Rath Yatra and chariot pulling should be allowed,” said Ramachandra Dasmohapatra, another servitor said.
Uncertainty over Rath Yatra also triggered political wrangling. BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan blamed the state government for dilly-dallying on Rath Yatra and playing with the sentiments of devotees. Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo also targetted the government on the emotive issue and sought an early decision for the convenience of people. BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy asked the opposition parties to refrain from politicising Rath Yatra and said the government will take the decision soon after consulting Puri Shankaracharya and king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb.
Inspired By