Odisha Accepts SC Verdict on Rath Yatra For The Greater Good of the People

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court of India has stayed the world famous Ratha Yatra for this year due to the prevailing pandemic situation. While this decision has upset millions of Jagannath Bhaktas all over the world, people have also welcomed it as it could have jeopardized the Covid-19 situation. Even ardent devotees of Lord Jagannath have opined that, whatever is happening is good for the society. The Lord of the Universe is watching everything and he is doing all this. 

There are examples in mythology that the Lord of The Universe Sri Jagannath is omnipresent. He cares for his people even if he is not visible. A true Jagannath devotee is never away from the Lord. The situation reminds us about the tale of Dasia Bauri, an untouchable, but great devotee of Lord Jagannath.  He could not go to Puri but his devotion to the Lord helped his Coconut offering reach the deity.

According to Harihara Pradhan of Kendrapara, an ardent Jagannath devotee, “every year I go to Puri to watch the Ratha Yatra. I am doing so for the last 22 years. But this year there will be no Ratha Yatra. I don’t have any regret for this as I believe this decision has been taken in view of the safety of all.”

The Supreme Court decision got a strong support from Basudev Maharana of Aska who gave a befitting reply to the query regarding holding of Ratha Yatra. According to him, people are saying that it is rare event that the Ratha Yatra is being cancelled. I will say that, it is also very rare that a pandemic of such an intensity has gripped the world. So people should understand the situation and keep their faith in the almighty.

Panchannana Choudhry, trustee of Gosaninuagaon Jagannath Temple, Berhampur has said that “Due to restrictions imposed by the Odisha Government as well as the District Administration for COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Rath Yatra cannot be held as before as social distancing norms cannot be followed strictly”. However, the rituals of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be conducted inside the temple premises in order to maintain the traditions.

When common people from the rural areas could understand the reasons behind the staying of the world famous Ratha Yatra, there should not be any more confusion. The decision of the Supreme Court and the Resolution passed by the State Cabinet endorsing the order should be respected by all in the wellbeing of the society.

Some people are also of the opinion that when 2000 people staying together at Tablighi, Nizzamudin, in New Delhi, created such a Corona catastrophe, would not we have risked giving Puri and Lord Jagannath a bad name by risking a spread of the disease through Rath Yatra.  Also, if the Puri Ratha Temple is allowed to go ahead with the Ratha Yatra, there will be requests from other places too. In Odisha more than 6331 Ratha Yatras organised. And if all hold the Yatra, then there is a serious risk of spread of the Coronavirus.

According to historians, there are examples in past when pandemics have created serious health hazards in Odisha and in Puri specifically during the Ratha Yatra. The Cholera pandemic of the 18th century and the Plague of the 19th Century are two incidents that took thousands of lives. Both those deadly diseases spread like wildfire and took lives because of the large congregation of people during the Rath Yatras.

Would Lord Jagannath want this? Isn’t He the one who does everything? What is Supreme Court in front of HIS wish. Having no Rath Yatra is HIS wish only. He has sacrificed for the health of his devotees and for Odisha. Let’s respect Lord and do our Yatra in our hearts.