The Supreme Court of India has stayed the annual rath yatra at Puri’s Jagannath Temple in Odisha. “Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allowed the rath yatra,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said today while hearing a petition seeking to defer the rath yatra. The apex court said that “Such gatherings can’t take place at the time of the pandemic”. The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, which is considered one of India’s biggest chariot festivals was set to commence from June 23.
The Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra and activities connected to it will not be allowed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court said today. Referring to the advice by health professionals to maintain social distancing as the highly infectious coronavirus can spread via respiratory droplets and surface contact. The risk increases in a crowded environment.
The court said that the step to stay the rath yatra is being taken “in the interest of public health and safety of citizens” as the results could be catastrophic.
An Odisha-based rights organisation, Odisha Vikas Parishad, has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the possible celebration of the annual Rath Yatra in the coastal district which may draw some 10 lakh people and the religious event goes on for 10-12 days.
The rath yatra amid the coronavirus pandemic “will be an invitation to infect lakhs of devotees”, the petition said. It also stated that the religious festival had attracted a crowd of 10 lakh in 2019, the plea urges that if such an arrangement is repeated this year, then the results would be “catastrophic.