New Delhi: Aftab Hossen, a 19-year-old boy from Nayagarh in Odisha, who had approached the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order cancelling Rath Yatra amid covid-19, welcomed court's directions of conducting Puri's Rath Yatra in a very restrictive manner.
Hossen said that he is grateful and we live in a "beautiful time" which will allow us to witness Rath Yatra on live broadcast.
Asked on why despite being from a different religion, the matter concerned him, Hossen said, "I am an Odia boy and therefore had to file this petition."
Speaking about his inclination to Jagannath Puri, he said, "I have has been influenced by Lord Jagannath since my childhood and my late grandfather Multab Khan was also a devotee."
In class 10th, one of his teachers, Bansilal Sahu had also inspired him to follow Lord Jagannath.
"By heart he is a hindu," said Advocate PK Mahapatra, who had argued Hossen's case in the Supreme Court on Monday.
Hossen's father Imdad Hussain, mother Rashida Begum and younger brother Anmol have never opposed him worshipping the idol of Jagannath. However, Hossen said he has not visited the 12th century shrine in Puri as he was born in a Muslim family. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. "I have not visited the temple as I am not allowed. I believe that I am a human being and there is one creator in the universe," he said.
Hossen had on June 17 had filed a petition opposing the Odisha Vikash Parishad which sought a stay on the festival. Later, his lawyer Mahapatra sought a modification in the order of the apex court to conduct the rath yatra only in Puri.
Besides Hossen, Jagannath Sanskriti Jana Jagaran Manch, Viswanath Das, Nituranjan Dash, Bijan Paikray, Sanjeev Kumar Chinnara, Daitapati Nijog Committee, Raghunath Gochhikar, Janardhan Pattajosi Mohapatra, Shree Jagannath Sevayat Samilanim, International Hindu Mahasangha, Shree Jagannath Sewa Santha and others, Shree Shree Abhiram Cultural Centre and others, Santanu Kumar Pradhan Abhigya and others have filed interventions in the apex court.
On 18th June, SC had put a stay on conducting Rath Yatra this year for the fear of Covid pandemic. But after various petitions seeking modification were filed, the court modified its order and allowed the Rath Yatra to be conducted provided health is not compromised and certain restrictions are imposed in the festival to limit the attendees.
Also read: SC indicates nod to Puri's Rath Yatra, to leave micro-management to Centre, state and temple trust
