Rath Yatra 2020 Concludes with Niladri Bije of Trinity

Puri: The world famous annual Rath Yatra concluded peacefully on Saturday as Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra returned to the sanctum sanctorum of the 12th century shrine here during the ‘Niladri Bije’ ritual.

The festival had commenced on June 23 when the divine siblings had embarked upon a nine-day sojourn to Gundicha Temple through the Grand Road in three majestic wooden chariots.

After nine-day sojourn the deities returned to Singhadwara of Srimandir on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra on July 1. The Trinity appeared in ‘Suna Besha’, the golden attire on the following day. The Adharapana ritual of the divine siblings was conducted on Friday.

As per the direction of the Supreme Court, all the rituals of the deities were performed by a limited number of servitors in the absence of devotees in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The Sevayats underwent COVID-19 test and only those who tested negative participated in chariot pulling and other rituals of the deities during the festival.

The Odisha Government has made elaborate arraignments for the smooth and successful conduct of the festival.