PURI’S FAMOUS RATH YATRA RITUALS TO BE CONDUCTED INSIDE THE TEMPLE
Rajesh Mohapatra,Odishabarta
BHUBANESWAR: The famous Puri Rath Yatra is a festival of Hindu celebrated every year participated by a large number of devotees across the globe but speculation was there about the conduction of the same this year which was partly clarified today.
As per the advice sought from the Puri Shankarcharya, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on rituals of Rath Yatra which kick started from Akshay Tritiya falling on 26th of this month will be conducted inside the Jagarnnath Temple because of COVID-19 effect and the lockdown which is running till 3rd May, said Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dubyasingha Deb.A high level meeting was conducted comprising of SJTA official, members of the Jagannath Temple managing Committee after a discussion with Puri Shankaracharya.
The exact place of this ritual is not yet decided and will be decided soon after taking due consultation with all the servitors of the temple. Puri Shanakaracharya is of the opinion that Central Govt. and State Govt. should take a suitable decision about Rath Yatra keeping the rich traditions in mind.
Puri Collector, Balwant Singh said, this meeting was all important and the decision has been taken to conduct the rituals inside the temple. It is yet to see what decision comes from both the Govt. about Rath Yatra after the lockdown is over but history says many times in the past; Rath Yatra of Puri had been stopped because of many reasons.
