Bhubaneswar: In view of the second wave of corona epidemic, the Odisha government has banned Rath Yatra festivals at all parts of the state except Puri, the main residence of Lord Jagannath. Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena said the Puri Rath Yatra, which begins on July 12, will be held only with servants without devotees. The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court last year for conducting the Rath Yatra will be strictly followed.

The Odisha Special Relief Commissioner said that the Odisha government has always given supreme importance to the safety and well-being of the people. Since it is a mass festival celebrated with great fanfare in and outside Odisha, public participation in the festival needs to be banned. Only fully vaccinated servants with covid's negative report will be allowed to participate in the rituals.

The Supreme Court on June 18, 2020 banned the Rath Yatra as a precautionary measure in the wake of the Corona virus epidemic. The apex court had issued 11 guidelines, including curfew. The Odisha government had said that it was possible to conduct the festival without a public appearance after which the court cleared the way for the rath yatra to be taken out. The court had ordered closure of entry points in Puri and imposition of curfew on the state government.

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