Decision on Puri Rath Yatra only After Post Lockdown: Gajapati Maharaja

Bhubaneswar: Amid uncertainty looms large over the observation of world famous Rath Yatra following the outbreak of COVID-19, Puri King Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Friday said that the final decision on Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in Puri will be taken after only after May 3 once lockdown will be lifted and also discussion with the Puri Shankaracharya.

Speaking to media, Gajapati Maharaja said, “Decision on the Rath Yatra preparations will be taken after discussion with the Shankaracharya this evening and as per the new guidelines to be issued by the Government after May 3”.

Hence, decision on how to organise Rath Yatra whether without congregation of devotees depends entirely on the Government, he said.

The world famous Rath Yatra is scheduled to be celebrated on June 23.

He further made it clear that no ritual can take place outside Srimandir during COVID-19 lockdown.

The chariot construction for the Rath Yatra cannot take place during the lockdown, he added.