Cuttack: The Orissa High Court gave Thursday its nod to the nine-day long annual Biraja Rath Yatra to be held in Jajpur. All the rituals, however, will need to be observed according to COVID-19 guidelines.
Hearing two PILs and four cases filed by Mukti Mandapa Sevayat Parishad of Maa Biraja Temple and Jajpur District Lawyers Association, Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice BR Sarangi said Thursday that the Biraja Rath Yatra can start from October 17 in Jajpur district.
In its two petitions, Mukti Mandapa Sevayat Parishad had urged the court to allow conduction of the Rath Yatra — scheduled to continue till October 25 –according to COVID-19 protocols.
‘Maa Biraja’ is the only Goddess in India to have her own chariot festival, which can only be held at her shrine during Durga Puja, the petitioners had argued before the High Court.
Notably, earlier the Supreme Court had also allowed conduction of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri.
PNN