“We celebrated the event today, we pulled the chariot. Without the devotees, however, it is not the same, for even Lord Jagannath wants devotees to come to his temple.”
These were the words of a priest in the Jagannath Temple in Odishas Puri when the nine-day festival of Rath Yatra began on Monday. For the second year in a row, the Yatra had no followers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The temple priests, who are used to seeing many people during the yatra, seemed less enthusiastic about the festival this year.
“When he (Lord Jagannath) gets on his chariot, he cannot see his followers. Every year people from all over the world come to the Rath Yatra, but that has been missing for two years, ”the priest told the.
Read: Puri Rath Yatra Starts Not Allowing Devotees Due To Covid-19; Greetings from PM Modi, CM Patnaik
“What are we without believers? We feel incomplete without them and together we have completed the entire religious process. We want the Covid-19 pandemic to end and the believers to return to the Jagannath Temple and be part of it can be this religious festival next year, “said another priest.
Rituals are performed on Monday during Lod Jagannath Rath Yatra. (Photo: PTI)
At least 2,800 priests were part of the Rath Yatra in Puri on Monday, while 800 officials were allowed to enter the temple. They were only approved after they were fully vaccinated and tested negative for Covid-19. In addition, at least 65 trains of security personnel were on duty to ensure that the festival ran smoothly.
On June 10th of this year the The Odisha government has announced that devotees will be expelled from participating in the annual Rath Yatra, which only takes place in Puri under strict Covid-19 protocols. The Supreme Court also refused to intervene against the government’s order.
A family about 300 meters from Jagannath Temple was discouraged when they saw the car drive past the house. “It is not the same thing to watch the chariot and still not be part of the Rath Yatra. Even though the Jagannath Temple is so close, we cannot step outside. This is the second year that we are not participating in this religious festival, ”said one follower.
“We take part in the Rath Yatra every year and this year we couldn’t be there. We hope that things will change next year, ”said another supporter.
While the three chariots were being drawn during the Rath Yatra, the priests were constantly sprayed with disinfectant on their journey to Gundicha Temple, 3 km from the Jagannath Temple. Those who attended the festival may have tested negative for Covid-19, but not all of them wore a mask or observed social distancing.
Also read: No Rath Yatra this year in Jharkhand due to the Covid-19 situation, says CM Hemant Soren
See also: Devotee-less Rath Yatra for the second year in Puri
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