New Delhi: In Odisha, the Supreme Court has refused to allow Jagannath Yatra at places other than Puri. CJI NV Ramana said that the Supreme Court is hopeful that God will allow the yatra next year, but at present this time is not for it. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the order of the Odisha government to limit the Rath Yatra to Puri due to Covid.
In fact, the Odisha government has passed an order to stop the Rath Yatra festival in all the temples of Odisha except the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra. The petition is an appeal against the order of the Orissa High Court dated June 23, 2021, refusing to interfere with the state’s decision. The appeal, filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, challenged an order issued by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Government of Odisha, which had held that the Rath Yatra would be conducted like last year.
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The petitioners, who are devotees and servitors of the deities in different places, have argued that the growth of COVID-19 in the places belonging to them was much lesser than in Puri, hence the reason for Rath Yatra in such areas outside Puri. Events should be allowed. On this, the court said that if you want to worship, then do it at home. The CJI also said that I also used to go to the Rath Yatra. I haven’t been able to go for a year and a half. I worship at home. The decision of the government is correct. It was said on behalf of the Odisha government that permission has been given to take out the Rath Yatra in Puri with conditions. Taking out Rath Yatra in the entire state cannot be allowed. 500 people have been appointed to pull the chariot, who have RT-PCR test.
