Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati and several traditional priests of Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri, said on Friday that the decision to not hold this year’s Rath Yatra should be reviewed.
A day after the Supreme Court stayed this year’s Rath Yatra and the State Cabinet decided to obey the order, political leaders and devotees have demanded that the centuries-long tradition should not be disrupted.
“The Supreme Court order cancelling Rath Yatra is welcome in view of the pandemic. But it can be held with just a few servitors. People can watch Lord Jagannath on chariot through live telecast,” said Puri Shankaracharya.
Chattisa Nijog, the apex body of priests of the Shree Jagannath Temple, urged the State government to take the view of legal experts, preparatory to approaching the Supreme Court again.
“It is prayed that you approach the Supreme Court immediately to modify its June 18 order to allow the conduct of Rath Yatra by imposing strict curfew in Puri and ensure absolute non-congregation of crowd,” said Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra of Chhattisa Nijoga.
Earlier, the managing committee of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration had agreed with the Supreme Court and the State Cabinet.
“We will obey the Supreme Court order. The Rath Yatra cannot be held outside. We will take a call on performing the annual rituals of Shree Jagannath Temple after discussions with Puri Shankaracharya,” said Dibyasingha Deb, Puri’s titular king and chairman of the managing committee.
This will be the first time in the last 285 years that the Rath Yatra will not be held.
