Jagannath Rath Yatra Being Marked In Odisha With Conditions; Know What Are The New Rules Of Celebration This Year

The Supreme Court on Monday gave a green signal for the historic procession putting certain conditions to prevent spread of Coronavirus during the gathering and directed the authorities to hold the event in a limited way without public attendance.

Supreme Court yesterday granted permission to hold the annual chariot festival Rath Yatra this year.

New Delhi: The largest chariot festival of India, the Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri will be celebrated today, though, without devotees and under a curfew. The Supreme Court on Monday gave a green signal for the historic procession putting certain conditions to prevent spread of Coronavirus during the gathering and directed the authorities to hold the event in a limited way without public attendance, as it recalled its previous order which suspended the festival for this year. To watch Rath Yatra live coverage from Puri keep checking our LIVE TV .  Here are the conditions under which the festival will be marked this year:

• The apex court ordered closure of entry points into Puri and the state government would have to impose a curfew, which begins 8 p.m. on Monday and continues during the period of the Rath Yatra
• Not more than 500 people, including servitors and security personnel, are allowed to pull one chariot, and hence, the administration requires 1,500 people to pull the three chariots.
• The number 500 shall include officials and police personnel.
• Those engaged in pulling chariots will have to maintain social distancing before, during and after the Rath Yatra.
• The people testing negative for COVID-19 will only be allowed to pull the chariots.
• The state government has also prohibited the movement of trains and passenger buses to Puri during the shutdown period, an official said.

• The state government shall impose a curfew in Puri on all the days and during all the time when Rath Yatra chariots are taken in procession.
•  During the period of curfew, no one would be allowed to come out of their houses or their places of residence, such as hotels, lodging houses, etc.... to start with, the curfew shall begin tonight at 8 p.m
• There shall be an interval of one hour between two chariots, and everybody involved in pulling the chariot should maintain social distancing before, during and after the Rath Yatra.
• The state government shall maintain a record containing details of all those who have been allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra or the rituals connected therewith along with details of their medical conditions after testing.

Also Watch: Preparations underway for Puri Jagannath Temple rath yatra