DEVOTEES DISHEARTENED IN ROURKELA, AS RATH YATRA WAS NOT PERFORMED BECAUSE OF COVID-19

Rajesh Mohapatra,Odishabarta

ROURKELA: Rath Yatra this year was not celebrated anywhere in Rourkela, rather not celebrated elsewhere in the stat excepting Puri, as per the verdict of the Supreme Court. This was a setback for Jagarnnath lovers; nevertheless everybody is happy that they have seen the Puri Jagarnnath Rath Yatra, the pioneer one. There were dozen of major Rath Yatras which had been organized in Rourkela every year among them one in Sector-3 is the oldest and the biggest one in Rourkela.

The other temples who organized Rath Yatra were Kolengar Jagarnnath temple, Uditnagar Jagarnnath temple, temple in Panposh, Basanti Colony Jagarnnath temple, Chhend Jagarnnath Temple, Sector-6 Jagarnnath Temple and many others.  This year as per the guidelines, all these temple have performed their rituals within the temple premises and police had cordon off all these temples to stop devotees to make a large gathering.  Anyways, all rituals of lord- trio had performed with all discipline and enthusiasm.  Like every years few artists have created their creation on Rath Yatra which was organized by one organization, ‘Canvas’.

They have painted their ideas on many issues relating to Rath Yatra and lock-down. Most of the people of Rourkla have stayed indoors and enjoyed Puri Rath Yatra through television screen. It was for the first time in Rourkela that Rath Yatra was not organized but everyone is happy that Rath Yatra at Puri was allowed to continue.