Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik on Tuesday requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to prepare a detailed strategy as to how to safely hold the Puri Rath Yatra this year in the event of combustion of COVID-19 restrictions.
"This year, Rath Yatra falls on June 3. For making chariots, wood logs have already arrived at the Grand Road and Rath making will start on Akshaya Tritiya on April 26,” the PCC chief has pointed out in a letter to the CM.
Possibility of lifting of social distancing restriction looks gloomy. Thus, as advised by the Supreme Court, the Government should consult with the Shreemandir Management Committee and the Puri Shankaracharya regarding holding of Ratha Yatra. As the situation is different this year in view of coronavirus, the Government should make a detailed plan as to how and in which way Ratha Yatra would be held safely, he told the CM.
Mentioning that Rath Yatra is also held across the State, Niranjan Patnaik said the decision taken for holding Puri Rath Yatra must be followed by other temples.
Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is a very sensitive issue. So, the Government should not make any delay in taking a decision for holding it.