Odisha: Puri seer urges SC to allow Rath Yatra with restrictions

BHUBANESWAR: Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Friday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to review its Thursday’s order on the cancellation of the June 23 Rath Yatra in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It coincided with a Nayagarh-based man, identified as Aftab Hussein, filing a petition in the apex court, seeking partial modification of the order to ensure the conduct of the festival in Puri amid complete shutdown.
Puri Shankaracharya said, “The Supreme Court’s judgment is understandable in the context of public health and safety amid the Covid-19 outbreak. I welcome the order. But the SC should reconsider its judgment and allow the car festival in a restricted manner. Only some people, who are associated with the conduct of Rath Yatra, should be allowed to perform the rituals. The temple tradition should be safeguarded, though with certain riders during the unprecedented crisis.”
The Hindu seer further said the pulling of the chariots should not be stopped.
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