Uncertainty looms over Rath Yatra 2020 amid spike in COVID-19 cases

There is still a lot of confusion as to whether the Rath Yatra will be held or not. A lot of suspense still surrounds the Yatra as to how it will be conducted according to the central government's COVID19 guidelines.

Puri: Amid the daily spike in Covid-19 cases in Odisha, uncertainty looms over the fate of this year’s annual Rath Yatra at the world-famous Jagannath temple in Puri. With just 17 more days for Puri Rath Yatra and COVID19 positive cases in Puri district in last, some days can be the major cause for concern.

Not just the devotees, even those in charge of the conduct of the grand festival are keeping their fingers crossed.

There is still a lot of confusion as to whether the Rath Yatra will be held or not. A lot of suspense still surrounds the Yatra as to how it will be conducted according to the central government's COVID19 guidelines.

Speaking to ETV Bharat in this regard, Durga Dash Mohapatra, President of Daitapati Nijog, said, "On the world-famous Car Festival day, the grand road in front of the Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri turns into a sea of humanity. Every year the chariot, the road, as well as the devotees, eagerly await to have a “Darshan” (appearance) of the Lord. During the Car festival on the grand road, the Lord and His devotees become one."

"However, during the current year, several questions have cropped up in the minds of millions and millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath, as to how the Car Festival would be held this year in the midst of restrictions imposed on account of Corona. Whether like every year the devotees would gather on the grand road in large numbers or the Car Festival would be stopped," he said.

"We, the carpenters and other servitors are engaged in the construction of the chariots following all corona related restrictions. As a precautionary measure, 200 carpenters engaged in the construction of chariots, 754 servitors and employees of the Sri Jagannath Temple have also undergone Corona Tests," Bijaya Mohapatra, Chief Carpenter of Chariots.

"All the measures are taken by the state government to make it clear that special attention would be given to maintain social distancing and prohibit the spread of the virus during the car festival. The state government will make the final decision as to whether the Car Festival would be held as per the Covid-19 guidelines or it would not be held at all," said Ajay Kumar Jena, Development Administrator, Srimandir.

Time is running out. Something which never has happened in hundreds of years, unfortunately, seems likely in 2020 as dark clouds of uncertainty continue to hover over the annual grand spectacle of Holy Trinity. Meanwhile, COVID testing of Daitapati servitors to be engaged in Snana Purnima rituals was conducted.