New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today ordered that the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra and related festivites in the temple in Odisha’s Puri will not be allowed to take place this year amid outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic
“Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allowed the Rath Yatra,” Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde said while hearing a petition seeking the postponement of the Rath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on June 23 this year.
The SC bench headed by CJI SA Bobde further commented that such huge gathering can’t take place during pandemic.
“In the interest of public health and safety of citizens, we restrain the state from holding the Rath Yatra and associated activities. We direct that there shall be no Rath Yatra and associated activities this year”, the CJI ordered.
The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is considered one of India’s biggest chariot festivals.
A non-profit, Odisha Vikas Parishad, in its petition said the annual rath yatra in the coastal district in Odisha will draw some 10 lakh people and the religious event goes on for 10-12 days.
The rath yatra amid the COVID-19 pandemic “will be an invitation to infect lakhs of devotees”, the petition said, adding the Odisha government has also not allowed religious places to open before June 30.
-CHK
