Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke Monday to Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the chairperson of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, amid the uncertainty over the Rath Yatra in Puri this year. Amit Shah discussed the rituals associated with Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra, which has continued without a break since 1736, with Deb, Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty informed.
“As per the direction of Lord Jagannath’s great devotee Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Gajapati Maharaja,” Mohanty said in a tweet. “I am optimistic that the apex court will give a green signal to hold the Rath Yatra in Puri this year,” Mohanty added. Shah also discussed the religious sentiments attached to the festival with Deb, informed Mohanty.
The Supreme Court said Monday that Chief Justice SA Bobde has agreed to set up a three-judge bench to hear during the day the pleas seeking modifications in its June 18 order that stayed this year’s Rath Yatra due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Centre told the Supreme Court that the Rath Yatra can be allowed without public participation in view of the pandemic and said the ‘tradition of centuries may not be stopped’. The Odisha government also supported the Centre’s stand in the apex court.
The Puri Rath Yatra, which is attended by lakhs of people from across the world, is scheduled to be held from June 23.
Earlier the apex court had, June 18, said in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, this year’s Rath Yatra cannot be allowed and that ‘Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow’ it.
While the Rath Yatra festival, held over 10-12 days, is scheduled for June 23, the ‘Bahuda Yatra’ (return car festival) is slated to be held, July 1.
Deb had earlier urged the Odisha government to ensure that the Rath Yatra goes on as usual as it is ‘sanctioned and mandatory’ according to religious scriptures and the laws of the land. He had suggested a devotee-less festival this time in the wake of the pandemic.