Supreme Court allowed annual Puri Rath Yatra festival in a very “restricted manner” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier the apex court had stayed this year’s Rath Yatra due to Coronavirus pandemic. Centre told the apex court that Rath Yatra in Puri can be allowed without public participation as the ‘tradition of centuries may not be stopped’. The Odisha government also supported the Centre’s stand in the apex court and will coordinate with the Centre to hold the Rath Yatra.
The order was passed in a plea seeking modification of the apex court’s 18 June order staying this year’s Rath Yatra due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Centre submitted that the Rath Yatra can be allowed to be held this year without public participation in view of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the “tradition of centuries may not be stopped”. The Odisha government supported the Centre’s stand.
The top court held that it will leave it to the temple management and the Odisha government to conduct the Yatra in a restricted manner without allowing public participation.
“It is a matter of faith for crores. If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, said.
The Puri Rath Yatra is attended by lakhs of people from across the world and is scheduled to be held from June 23.
The top court had on June 18 said that in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, this year’s Rath Yatra, cannot be allowed and that “Lord Jagannath won’t forgive us if we allow” it.
