The servitors and devotees of Lord Baladevjew have expressed displeasure at the State Government’s decision not to hold Rath Yatra anywhere in the State except Puri.
If Lord of the Universe Jagannath’s Car festival is allowed at Puri without devotees amid the ongoing pandemic, then why the State Government has not been allowing the Car festival here at the Baladevjew temple, they asked. They urged the State Government to let the Rath Yatra be organized at Tulasi Khetra follow issuing SoP and prohibiting the devotees’ participation.
Nrusingha Prasad Patri, the puja panda (servitor) of Baladevjew temple, said that the State Government should give green signal to organise the Baladevjew’s Rath Yatra in Kendrapada with limited participation of servitors.
The Government has decided that only servitors having RT-PCR negative report within 48 hours and those who are fully vaccinated will take part in the proceeding including observance of all rituals at Puri. Here too, the same can apply, demanded the servitors of the Baladevjew temple.
“We are going to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard soon,” they stated.
It may be noted here that last year, the Ratha Yatra was organized inside the Baladevjew temple premises. No chariot pulling was held. The district administration had promulgated Section 144 CrPC outside the temple premises, Ratha danda and Mausima temple during Sri
Gundicha and Bahuda Yatra to restrict the congregation of devotees.